Portarlington pizza shop damaged in blaze, Herne Hill fire suspicious

The owner of a Portarlington pizza shop has spoken after watching his business burn to the ground on Wednesday morning.

Portarlington Pier Front pizza shop has been damaged in a blaze on Wednesday morning.

The owner of a popular pizzeria in Portarlington has been left “shattered” after watching his business burn on Wednesday morning.

Pier Front Pizzeria owner John Geracitano said he was still processing the devastating effect of the blaze, which has completely gutted the inside of the Newcombe St building.

Roads were blocked off at Fisher and Harding St following the fire, believed to have started before 7am.

Mr Geracitano, who has owned the much loved restaurant for six years, said he received a phone call this morning “saying smoke was coming out the windows.”

“It’s a bit surreal, I’m fielding a lot of calls at the moment and we are just trying to make sense of everything,” he said.

“It’s a waiting game now to work out what has happened.”

Seven fire units, multiple police vehicles and paramedics were called to the scene.

No one was injured.

Portarlington Pier Front pizza shop.

A crane was being used to give firefighters access to the double storey building, with the fire under control about 9.15am.

It’s understood the upper floor has partially collapsed with the building deemed unsafe to enter.

Mr Geracitano said “there was nothing left” and the news would shock a lot of people in the tight-knit Bellarine Peninsula township.

“We want to let our customers know, and we are letting staff know,” he said.

“They will be upset because we have a great following.”

The restaurant is located next to the Portarlington Primary School, however it did not disrupt classes.

One local onlooker, Kathy, said she was feeling for the owners.

“It’s very bad news for them, very sad,” she said.

“I heard this morning the pizza shop had burnt down but I’ve never seen so many fire trucks in my life.”

A CFA spokeswoman said units from Portarlington, Leopold, Drysdale, St Leonards and Barwon Heads attended the scene, as well as police.

“Upon arrival, crews found large volumes of smoke coming from a building and immediately began suppression efforts,” she said.

Portarlington Pier Front pizza shop has been damaged in a blaze on Wednesday morning.

Victoria Police have been contacted for comment.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, a man was hospitalised following a suspicious house fire in a Herne Hill unit.

Emergency services were called to a unit on Karoomba Ave in Herne Hill just before 4.30am.

The 27-year-old occupant was evacuated by emergency services from inside the unit and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A CFA spokesman said two units from Geelong West attended the scene at 4.18am, alongside FRV and Victoria Police.

“Upon arrival, crews found a structure fire well alight and immediately began suppression efforts,” the spokesman said.

“The incident was deemed under control at 4.36am and declared safe at 6.09am.

“The scene was then handed to Victoria Police.”

It is understood neighbours living in the other units will be relocated due to damage.

Emergency services were called to a fire at a premises on Karoomba Ave, Herne Hill on Wednesday, 26 February about 4.30am.

Neighbours on the street said they were woken by the firefighters, and hadn’t known if everyone in the building was safe.

“Lucky they got them out,” one neighbour said.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said paramedics transported the man in his 20s Geelong hospital in stable condition with upper and lower body injuries.

A police spokeswoman said the fire was being treated as suspicious.

“A crime scene has been established,” she said.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information or anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Originally published as Portarlington pizza shop damaged in blaze, Herne Hill fire suspicious