Northern Territory police and crime: The Top End’s worst structure fires are revealed

From a razed medical supply warehouse to a major blaze at a popular RSL club, police are investigating a raft of suspicious fires at NT businesses. We reveal five of the Top End’s worst fires.

A FIRE that destroyed a warehouse in Berrimah at the weekend is the latest in a slew of serious structure fires in the NT.

Medical supplies worth about $30m were destroyed in the blaze.

We look back at some of the worst blazes in recent years across the Northern Territory.

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ORIENTAL EMPORIUM, COCONUT GROVE

SUSPECTED ARSON
In October 2020, a favourite of the Darwin retail scene went up in smoke under suspicious circumstances.

The fire at Oriental Emporium caused several millions of dollars of damage and completely gutted the property at Bagot Road.

Despite vision of someone lighting the blaze emerging, the alleged arsonist was never caught.

NT Oriental Emporium was engulfed in flames. Picture: SUPPLIED

CARCOM INSTALLATIONS, WOOLNER

UNDER INVESTIGATION

An industrial fire broke out at Carcom Installations in Woolner on June 9, 2022.

The business was gutted by flames and the overnight inferno spread to two adjoining properties on Bishop St.

Good Samaritans and emergency services worked together to put out the blaze.

Four years earlier, a wholesale food and supply warehouse on the same street was destroyed by fire and continued smouldering for a number of days.

CAVENAGH ST BUSINESSES, DARWIN CITY

UNDER INVESTIGATION

A Sunday morning blaze woke business owners in the Darwin CBD in June 2022.

Multiple businesses were affected by the fire at the Chin Arcade on Cavenagh St, including ACET Migration, The Editor Darwin and Industrie Hair.

The building was unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported.

The scene of the Chin Arcade Fire on Cavenagh St. Picture: Glenn Campbell

BOWEN ST, WINNELLIE

UNDER INVESTIGATION

Two businesses were destroyed in a Winnellie fire that occurred in February 2018.

Beginning in an air-conditioning business on Bowen St, the blaze was reported about midnight.

An adjoining business was affected as the fire spread.

DARWIN RSL CLUB, DARWIN CITY

UNDER INVESTIGATION

Extensive damage was caused to the Darwin RSL Club when a fire broke out in June 2018.

The fire occurred overnight and was brought under control by 4.30am as revellers at nearby pubs and nightclubs watched on.

A large amount of “irreplaceable” memorabilia was damaged in the inferno.

Have you got information that could help police? Phone Crime NT Police on 131 444.