Smoke shops in Thornbury, Frankston set on fire
Smoke stores in Thornbury and Frankston were set ablaze in the latest arson attacks in Melbourne’s tobacco war.
Police & Courts
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Two more Melbourne smoke shops have been set on fire in the seemingly never-ending tobacco war.
Firefighters arrived at a store on St Georges Road in Thornbury, in Melbourne’s north, about 4.30am to find the tobacco and convenience shop ablaze.
Building owner Kishor Khatri said he had almost been waiting for something to happen since the lease was taken over by a tobacco shop.
“I must admit I was bit concerned because of all the fires in other places, but we can’t do anything because we have leased this place for a long time and we have no control over it,” Mr Khatri said.
“As a family, we always discussed whenever we heard about fires in other places where they’re selling tobacco and all that, and that was behind (in the back of) our mind.
“I even spoke to the agent about it, but he said we can’t do anything, it’s leased out, and that’s it.”
Allowed inside the building to inspect the damage, Mr Khoutri said he thought it would be a long time before the next door medical clinic would be able to open.
“Our side (housing the tobacco shop) is totally gone,” he said.
“But especially in the doctor’s side is all the electrical, light fittings, everything’s melted, there’s soot everywhere.
“There was no fire in his (the doctor’s) area but I just presume that he wouldn’t be able to run the clinic for a good while.”
The fire was brought under control within 50 minutes but the store was extensively damaged
The Thornbury fire came as arsonists also lit up a store on Young Street in Frankston in the early hours of Tuesday.
A man who lives close to the Thornbury shop said he had heard a banging noise about 4.30am but assumed it was from tram works taking place in the area.
He said he then heard what he assumed were vapes inside the tobacco shop blowing up like “intense popcorn”.
When he left his home to check out the commotion police and firefighters were on scene.
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