Phillip Island fires: Details of Arthur Phillip Motor Inn blaze, Cowes grassfire, Ventnor grassfire

Owners of a motel in Cowes which caught fire Friday said they are “eternally grateful” for the crews that saved their business.

Firefighters responded to a fire at the Arthur Phillip Motor Inn in Cowes on Friday, February 17, 2023. Picture: Brittany Carlson.

The owners of the Inn said they felt a “deep gratitude” for the CFA members who helped them when their motel caught fire on Friday night.

“Thanks to the heroic efforts of the CFA, the fire was contained quickly and efficiently and damage was contained to the residence & reception area only,” they said.

“We are relieved and grateful to report that no one was hurt in the incident.”

They also said despite the damage they were able to continue operating.

“We live in a wonderful community, and events like these remind us of how fortunate we are to have such dedicated and selfless emergency services personnel. We cannot thank them enough for their hard work and sacrifice,” they said.

It is believed the fire started in the garage of the motel.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident but it is not believed to be suspicious.

A fire broke out at the Arthur Phillip Motor Inn on Redwood Dr about 9.30pm.

A CFA spokesman said six units responded to the fire which started in the garage of the motor inn and spread to the main building through the roof.

A fire broke out at the Arthur Phillip Motor Inn in Cowes on Friday, February 17, 2023. Picture: Brittany Carlson.

Two people were treated by Ambulance Victoria paramedics for smoke inhalation, but were not taken to hospital.

A building surveyor and two firefighting units are at the scene Saturday morning to assist with investigations.

Victoria Police are now also investigating a grass and scrub fire which broke out in Ventnor on Sunday on Berry’s Beach Rd, about 1.30pm.

This incident added to a busy weekend for the Island’s fire fighters, who already attended the motel fire and a large grass fire in Ventnor on Friday.

A grassfire in Ventnor which burned for more than two hours.

Just after 5pm on Friday emergency services were called to Ventnor near Justice Rd to reports of a grassfire.

20 CFA units were supported by air units to control the fire which took approximately an hour and a half.

A grassfire burnt out of control right next to Cowes on Friday.

Both fires came on a scorching day across Victoria with total fire bans in some parts of the state and temperatures hovering around 40C.