Cause of fire that seriously damaged Moonah mechanic workshop investigated

A woman has told of the terrifying site of flames at her window during an early morning fire that caused extensive damage to a car and motorbike workshop.

Jashmin Shrestha outside her Coleman St home in Moonah. She had to be evacuated after fire took hold in the workshop behind her unit. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

A FAULT in an air compressor has been blamed for a fire that caused at least $700,000 damage to a Moonah workshop containing motorbikes and cars.

About 20 firefighters responded to the Charles Street blaze shortly after 2.30am on Wednesday after police noticed smoke coming from one of the buildings on the block.

Tasmania Fire Service Senior Station Officer Steve Walkley said the fire was difficult to control due to access issues and hazardous materials in the workshop, such as acetylene tanks.

“The damage to the workshop is fairly extensive, everything that was inside is pretty much a write-off,” he said.

“Crews had trouble gaining access into the building because it was pretty secure.

“They eventually cut a hole into a large steel roller door and fought the fire from there.

“The fire was caused by a fault in an air compressor. It’s not a common cause but there’s always potential for an electrical appliance to catch on fire.”

The fire caused about $700,000 damage to the workshop. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Senior Station Officer Walkely confirmed police quickly alerted workshop owner Shaun Kelly to the fire, assisting him and his dog to evacuate from an adjoining house.

Mr Kelly, who is a high-profile member of the Rebels Motorcycle Club, also owns the unscathed store in front of the workshop.

He was contacted by the Mercury on Wednesday but said he was too shaken to comment on the blaze.

Jashmin Shrestha, who lives in a unit on Coleman St directly behind the workshop with her partner and housemate, said she initially thought the fire was in her backyard.

“We were in a deep sleep when the police knocked on our door just before 2.30am,” she said.

“The flames were literally on our windows, so I thought it had started in our backyard.

“We grabbed our clothes and stood out on the street until about 7am.”

Mr Shrestha’s neighbour Beryl Green said she too was woken by the sound of police banging on her door.

“I could see high flames and smoke. I thought the unit next door was on fire but it wasn’t. It was scary and I was worried about my property,” she said.

The fire was extinguished in three hours but crews remained on scene until the afternoon putting out hot spots to allow the fire investigator to gain access.

EARLIER: THE cause of a fire that seriously damaged a mechanic workshop containing motorbikes and cars at Moonah is being investigated.

In a brief statement shortly after 8am, the Tasmania Fire Service said crews were called to the Charles St blaze just after 2.30am on Wednesday by police who were in the area and noticed smoke coming from one of the buildings.

Police alerted a man in a house next door and helped him evacuate the property with his dog.

The TFS said five crews attended the fire, which was difficult to control due to hazardous materials in the workshop such as acetelyne tanks.

Mechanic workshop fire at Moonah.

The fire was extinguished in three hours, and crews remained on the scene this morning extinguishing hot spots to allow the fire investigator to gain access.

More information is expected to be provided once the cause and estimate of damage is determined.

A warehouse fire at Creek Rd, New Town destroyed caravans and trailers last month.

Meanwhile, RACT Insurance is reminding Tasmanians to be vigilant when heating their homes this winter.

RACT Insurance chief executive Trent Sayers said a review of claims data for the winter months showed that fire related claims with wood heaters were responsible for 33 per cent of all claims in 2018.

“We found that over half of these fires were caused by inattention or accident, like logs falling out of the fireplace or not closing the door properly,” Mr Sayers said.

“RACT Insurance market research also found that 59 per cent of Tasmanians don’t have a home fire escape plan set up in case of fire.”

Mr Sayers said RACT Insurance claims data also revealed electrical faults caused 29 per cent of winter house fires, while cooking caused 19 per cent in 2018.