Brunswick East fire: Alpha Trading goes up in flames

It was the monster fire that had people fleeing down inner-city streets to get to safety — but there is heartening story to come from the ashes.

There was a moment of joy in the aftermath of Thursday’s ferocious Brunswick warehouse fire when a missing cat was reunited with its owners.

The moggy had gone missing as flames from the fire at Alpha Trading — an import-export spice business — threatened nearby apartments, while the remains of another cat was found in amid the ruins.

For Alpha Trading’s Bader Rajab, he is hoping loyal suppliers will keep his business of 22 years operating.

The John St warehouse is expected to be demolished by the end of the weekend, with fire crews remaining on standby to extinguish any hot spots buried deep within the wreckage.

Nine tenancies in a three-year-old multi-storey apartment building next door have been evacuated indefinitely.

Building owners Enterprise World confirmed tenants’ rent had been suspended and would be for as long as it took insurers to assess the extensive internal and external damage.

“We’re not sure if it can be repaired,” a spokesman for the company said.

“It’s through the plumbing, the wiring — the whole building.

“It’s not a good situation to be in.”

Also evacuated Thursday were homes in nearby Hutchinson St, with residents allowed back this morning to collect belongings but those in the four houses closest to the warehouse advised it could be two to three days before it’s safe to move back in.

Engineers and police inspect the damage at Alpha Trading, the day after the fire. Picture: Kirra Grimes

Mr Rajab, who imports and exports food products such as roasted nuts and food packaging from Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Turkey, said several long-term suppliers immediately offered support including temporary warehouse and office space in nearby Preston.

A friend comforts Alpha Trading owner Bader Rajab, pictured left, after a fire at his John St, Brunswick East warehouse. Picture: Kirra Grimes

Evacuated neighbours watch on. Picture: Jason Edwards

Fire Rescue Victoria Commander Graeme O’Sullivan said now the fire was under control, the warehouse’s heavy concrete tilt slab walls were the biggest risk to nearby homes.

“One of those falls down, that’s up to 20 tonnes, and it will crush anything in its path,” he said.

He said the blaze had damaged the street’s sewerage system and water supply and it could be months before the apartment block was declared habitable again.

Mr O’Sullivan confirmed neither Mr Rajab’s warehouse building nor its contents was insured at the time of the blaze, which could “slow down the process somewhat”.

“He’ll be responsible for the make safe order of his building,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

Police are still investigating the cause of the fire and have not confirmed whether it is suspicious.

Some evacuated apartment tenants were seen reuniting with their lost cat about 1pm on Friday, with bystanders commenting it was a relief to see an animal being carried out of the burned building alive after a deceased pet cat was found inside yesterday.

Other tenants were seen collecting belongings from the apartments, including one on the top floor.

Mr Rajab said he hoped to rebuild his warehouse but understood there was a lot of work to be done.

“We’ll wait for the engineers to say the demolition can start, then clean, then seek a quote or a permit to do something,” he said.

“We’ll work something out.”