By Ed Merrison
A FIRE which has left an estimated repair bill of $100,000 to a Ferntree Gully pizza restaurant last week is being investigated as suspected arson.
The smell of an unknown accelerant in the area of the blaze at Toscani’s Ristorante-Pizzeria on Burwood Highway led police to suspect the fire had been started deliberately.
Police spokeswoman Lin MacDonald said the building was unlocked with its two front doors open when police arrived.
Ms MacDonald said it was believed the unknown culprits entered the building and started the fire in a rear office area.
The building was reported ablaze about 12.15am on Wednesday, 5 April when a witness noticed smoke coming from inside the building.
The restaurant was closed at the time of the fire which was attended by 35 firefighters from five brigades including Ferntree Gully, Upper Ferntree Gully and Boronia.
A specialist breathing apparatus appliance from Bayswater and a lighting unit from Rowville were also employed as the CFA managed to put the fire out within 30 minutes.
CFA Region 13 operations officer Ross Sullivan said the fire would have appeared large due to the extent of smoke coming from the open plan restaurant.
Mr Sullivan said the smoke was visible up to half a kilometre away, allowing a witness to report it shortly after it began.
“The challenge with the fire was the whole building was smoke logged so to establish where the fire was was an extremely hard job at night,” he said.
Mr Sullivan said a thermal imaging camera allowed the CFA to locate the fire and have it under control within 10 minutes.
“We managed to contain the fire to an office area at the rear of the building, a small room about three metres by two metres.
“The office was severely fire damaged and there was fire extension (damage) into the roofspace,” he said.
An arson chemist investigated the scene on the day of the fire but it is not known how long it will take to analyse the findings.
Anyone who witnessed the fire is urged to contact Crime Stoppers with any information on 1800 333 000.
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