Pakenham pub fire ‘suspicious’

Top-storey windows left ajar and police tape blocks the entrance at Pakenham Hotel after the overnight fire. 175100 Picture: CAM LUCADOU-WELLS

By Brendan Rees and Cam Lacadou-Wells

Police are treating an overnight fire at Pakenham Hotel as suspicious.
A man delivering goods to a nearby cafe notified emergency services of smoke billowing from the Main Street hotel’s roof just before 1.30am on 15 November.
Six fire trucks from Pakenham, Nar Nar Goon, Toomuc and Dandenong CFA brought the fire under control.
Police say no injuries were reported and have not yet determined the exact cause of the blaze.
An arson chemist attended the scene that morning.
CFA Operations Officer Andrew Turner said 35 firefighters brought the fire under control within 20 minutes.
He said there was “extensive damage” to a room on the second floor and hallway.
“We’ve deemed it as suspicious and forensic and our fire investigation people are working through that.
“The fire was contained to the second floor of the premises with significant damage to one room and the hallway on the second floor.”
Mr Turner said there was no threat to neighbouring buildings, adding “it was all contained in the area of origin on the second level of the premises”.
He could not specify the damage costs involved but said “it’s definitely repairable”.
He said when crews arrived on scene, smoke was seen “logging throughout the entire building”.
“Due to a quick response the fire was able to be contained rapidly and all the crews worked well together.
“We’re really keen to highlight this was a job that was undertaken by both career firefighters and volunteer firefighters working together.”
He said a community warning regarding smoke was not issued as it was not a chemical fire.
Any information to Crime Stoppers at crimestoppersvic.com.au