Sunshine North factory fire a ‘targeted attack’, police say
Two people spread accelerant across a Sunshine North factory before setting it alight, killing two others in a neighbouring building, police say.
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UPDATE 3.20PM: A suspected arsonist lit themselves on fire while setting ablaze a Sunshine North factory, neighbours say.
A worker from a neighbouring business, Jake, told the Herald Sun there was CCTV that showed one of the men catching fire.
“One person jumped the fence,” he said. “There were two people — they light the right hand corner of the building on fire.
“As they did that, one of the guys caught aflame, he was actually on fire, so he’s jumped the fence and jumped back in the car and they took off.”
Jake said it was “scary” to think “things can happen, things can go badly.”
“Obviously the people they didn’t want to kill anyone but they did on a stupid act.”
Jake said workers at a neighbouring business who often arrived about 3am sometimes heard partying, music and people socialising overnight.
He said another neighbour had said he often heard people talking but not working out of the rear property.
UPDATE 3.05PM: Two people spread accelerant across a Sunshine North factory before setting it alight, killing two others in a neighbouring building.
Detective inspector Chris Murray said about 3.50am Friday a white Ford Ranger stopped outside the western panels business.
There, two people used accelerant to light it on fire.
“Unfortunately two individuals who were at the rear of the premises on Marshall St were caught up in the fire and as a result are now deceased, this is nothing short of a tragedy,” he said.
“We’ve got two innocent individuals who were caught up in what appears to be an arson attack.
“This has moved from an arson now to an arson causing death and we hold them personally responsible for the death of these two innocent individuals.”
Mr Murray said the two deceased were not linked to the targetted business and it was unknown whether the people sleeping were squatting or otherwise.
When asked whether they were running a business, he said they were “operating something” but said police were unaware at this stage what that was, only that there was nothing to suggest there was a drug lab in operation.
Mr Murray said the investigation was in its early stages and police would keep an open mind and look into the targeted premises and the owner.
The business was not known to police.
“Let’s clear the air here, there’s no links at all here to the recent spate of fires,” he said, referring to a spate of tobacco shop fires across Melbourne.
Mr Murray said police were pouring a lot of resources into locating the vehicle at the heart of the crime scene.
Police would not comment on the identity of the victims.
UPDATE 12.55PM: A double-fatal overnight fire in Sunshine North was deliberately lit, police believe.
The blaze started in a panel shop on Bunnett St but spread to a building at the rear in Marshall st where two people had been sleeping.
The died at the scene and are yet to be formally identified.
Detectives from the arson and explosives squad are at Sunshine North factories.
They believe the fire is a targeted attack and the deceased are not associated with the panel shop business.
The fire is not believed to be linked to the wave of firebombings from recent months which are the result of conflict in the illicit tobacco trade.
“Detectives believe the fire is a targeted attack and the deceased are not associated with the panel shop business,” a Victoria Police statement said.
EARLIER: Two people have died in a devastating factory fire in Melbourne’s west as almost 50 firefighters with special equipment battled the blaze.
Emergency services responded to a factory fire about 4am Friday after multiple calls for assistance at Bunnett St, Sunshine North.
Two people were inside the premisesa number 16-18 at the time and both tragically died at the scene.
They are yet to be formally identified.
Western District Deputy Commissioner Michelle Cowling said the Sunshine North factory was was being treated as suspicious and FRV was working with the Victoria Policce arson squad.
Ms Cowling said shortly after the first facility caught fire a second building at the rear of the property became alight.
The remains of two people were located in the second factory a short time after emergency services arrived.
FRV could not comment further about the fatalities but said Victoria Police would hold a press conference near the scene later Friday.
A stay informed alert is still current for the area due to significant smoke.
Ms Cowling said the fire was deemed under control within three hours, however, crews would likely remain throughout Friday into the evening due to a significant number of spot fires and the potential for more.
She said authorities could not confirm the name of the rear business but noted it appeared to be a scrap or recycling facility.
The initial job was upgraded, according to a Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman, after crews noticed smoke billowing from the facility on their way to the scene.
48 firefighters responded to the incident and the job needed nine pumpers, two aerial units and a rescue unit.
The building — a single-level tilt slab factory about 20m by 30m — was engulfed in flames.
Crews requested extra appliances to battle the blaze.
An advice message was issued a short time later due to a large amount of smoke in the area.
Picture: Brendan Beckett
The alert requested residents in the nearby area to stay informed about 5am.
Police remained at the scene as of 9am Friday and were investigating the circumstances of the fire.
They were yet to determine the cause.
Initial reports were the impacted factory was Air Liquide Healthcare.
However a statement from the company said it was “not affected”.
“While this facility is adjacent to Air Liquide’s facility, it is neither owned nor operated by Air Liquide,” the statement said.
“Air Liquide has, after engagement with the authorities, taken all the necessary safety actions including suspending operations to ensure the facility and employees remain safe.
“Air Liquide will continue to work closely with the authorities until the situation stabilizes.”
Berkshire Rd remained closed as of 11am Friday with many cars diverting through local streets.
Sunshine North resident Maria said she woke up about 4.30am — half an hour after the fire — after she noticed a major uptick in the number of cars passing her house.
“I did not hear the sirens or see the trucks but I knew something had happened because of the cars,” Maria said.
“So I thought I would go for a walk.
“I walked around the neighbourhood and could smell smoke but I did not see anything, it was too dark and the factories too far away.”
It comes as separate factories across Melbourne also went up in flames Friday morning.
Emergency services rushed to Malcolm Place in Campbellfield about 8.15am on Friday after reports of flames and smoke coming from a factory.
Fireys worked for 27 minutes to bring a blaze in a 15m x 20m concrete tilt slab warehouse under control.
Meanwhile an advice warning has been issued for Dandenong after a factory fire on Thomas Murrell Cr.
The alert, issued for Bangholme, Dandenong, Dandenong South and Keysborough, is warning nearby residents to stay informed and keep windows and doors closed if you’re sensitive to smoke.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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