Ex-tenant Chris Randle says West Footscray blaze not his fault

THE ex-tenant of last week’s factory blaze has broken his silence, saying he’s got no enemies despite owing money.

THE former tenant that fire chiefs and police say is the key to the West Footscray inferno has broken his silence to say he’s done nothing wrong and has no enemies despite admitting he owes people money.

It comes as the Metropolitan Fire Brigade declared the factory fire under control this morning, despite some smoke still coming from the site. A warning remains for people and their pets to avoid Stony Creek and other waterways because of pollution.

Chris Randle and his sawmill business were booted from the site six weeks ago amid accusations of unpaid rent, staff wages and large creditors.

The Herald Sun can reveal the CFMEU is chasing him over cash owed to workers and there was a $500,000 blaze at the Sommerville Rd factory about five years ago.

“I’ve got nothing to do with this fire,” he said. “I’m not guilty of anything down there. I’ve done everything correctly.

“All my hard work has gone up in smoke and I got nothing to my name.”

MORE: PROBE INTO WEST FOOTSCRAY INFERNO

WEST FOOTSCRAY FACTORY INFERNO UNDER CONTROL

NEIGHBOURS OF FACTORY FIRE ENDURE TOXIC SMOKE

Firefighters still working at the West Footscray factory fire. Picture: Nicole Garmston

The blaze raged out-of-control for hours off Somerville Road. Picture: Nicole Garmston

But Mr Randle refused to answer questions over whether he knew of anyone that wanted such an extreme payback and what was stored inside would let off such toxic fumes.

“I have to keep that knowledge to myself,” he said.

He said he knows people he owed money to were “hurting”.

“I’ve got no enemies. I’m paying them back slowly because I don’t have very much,” he said.

The toxic blaze on Thursday shut down schools and forced businesses to close.

Environmental authorities issued watch and act alerts to 19 suburbs between Port Melbourne and Altona as fire fighters struggled to contain the inferno, which could be seen as far away as Geelong.

Police continue to investigate the blaze — the city’s biggest in decades.

Fire chiefs last week said they were struggling to catch up with Mr Randle.

Sources said Mr Randle was assaulted in February at the workplace over debts — a claim he denied — and had threats to torch the building.

“There are some disgruntled creditors that are owed money and I’m paying them back,” he said.

Black smoke billowed from the fire on Thursday. Picture: David Caird

The smoke spread across the city. Picture: AAP Image/David Crosling

It can also be revealed the sprinkler system was not working but Mr Randle said: “Was that my responsibility? That’s the landlord’s responsibility.”

Business records indicate Mr Randle’s partner, Anna Dao, is the director of Nu-Life Pallets, the company that occupied the space.

She said she had no idea who would burn the place down and did not know about the company’s financials, despite being the director.

“I don’t know about that, I’m just the director,” she said.

“The factory was very old and we could not justify that money for the rent and he kicked us out.”

Landlord Chris Baldwin did not respond to calls yesterday.

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