By JESSE GRAHAM
A MOLOTOV cocktail has been named as the cause of a fire that destroyed a car in Healesville last week, and police are appealing for information.
The car fire, which started on a property on Farnham Road, was reported to emergency services about 10pm on Monday 20 October.
Police and firefighters attended the scene and doused the fire, which completely destroyed the Nissan Pathfinder four-wheel drive.
The car was taken away by detectives for forensic tests, and police believe that a Molotov cocktail – typically a bottle filled with petrol and ignited with a rag – caused the fire.
The car’s owners, who did not want to be named, were not home at the time of the fire, and received calls from neighbours with fears the fire could have spread to the house.
“I got a call from (Healesville CFA captain) Graeme Bates, to assure me that everything was okay and that the house was okay, but the car had been destroyed,” the owner said.
“I was shocked, and I am still shocked.”
The owner said that, while the car was insured, it had been in the family for over eight years, and had sentimental value.
“I loved driving it around,” they said.
Anyone with information on the fire is urged to contact Lilydale police on 9739 2300 or Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000, or to make a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
