By JESSE GRAHAM
Witnesses wanted in ‘deliberately lit’ house fire probe
POLICE are investigating a fire that destroyed a heritage-listed Healesville house last Monday, believed to be deliberately lit, and are appealing for witnesses.
CFA crews were called out to a fire at 122 Maroondah Highway at 10.36pm on Monday 22 September, after a number of calls came in from concerned residents.
The fire, which was burning out of the back and top of the building, was controlled in about 15 minutes, and finally blacked-out about midnight, with firefighters tackling the blaze from outside and inside the building.
Yarra Ranges Criminal Investigation Unit Acting Sergeant Detective Paul Edyvane told the Mail that arson chemists attended the scene of the fire the next day.
He said the fire was deemed suspicious, and was believed to be deliberately lit, but that police were waiting on tests to find out what was used to start the fire.
“We are appealing for anyone who might have knowledge.”
Healesville CFA Captain Graeme Bates said that neither power nor gas was connected at the house, and that 70 per cent of the house was alight when crews arrived.
Four fire trucks from Healesville, one from Badger Creek and a breathing apparatus unit from Bayswater all attended the fire.
Mr Bates said the crews were wary of asbestos sheeting, due to the age of the property, but that there was no risk to the firefighters or to neighbours.
A spokesperson for the owner of the property told the Mail that there had been vandalism to the property recently.
The building was the subject to an interim Heritage Overlay, as a planning scheme amendment for the Healesville Heritage Project was to be considered by an independent panel.
The house, along with a number of others in Healesville and Chum Creek, was flagged by the council as being historically significant, and recommended to be covered by a heritage overlay.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or by visiting crimestoppersvic.com.au, or call Yarra Ranges Criminal Investigation Unit on 9739 2300.
