Tasmania Fire Service responds to blaze at Peacock Centre, North Hobart on Christmas Eve
Police have revealed two potential young suspects are the focus of their investigation into the Christmas Eve fire at Mount Stuart’s Peacock Centre after a surprising lead. LATEST >>
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UPDATE: Police are treating the Christmas Eve fire at the Peacock Centre in Mount Stuart as suspicious as it’s revealed they have a lead on two potential young suspects.
TFS and Police were called to Elphinstone Rd address about 8.30pm Christmas Eve where the building was fully engulfed.
The fire was extinguished that night but the flames had gutted much of the building.
The building was vacant at the time of the fire and no one was injured.
Police have since learned two people were acting suspiciously in the area around the time of the fire and are seeking help from the public as to their whereabouts.
On of the men is described as 19 – 20 years old, wearing a black hooded jumper and dark pants, slim build and around 172cm.
The other, also a 19 – 20 years old male, was described as wearing a white jumper, dark pants, blonde hair, of a slim build and around 172cm.
“We’re also asking for businesses or residents in the area to check their CCTV around the time of the fire and forward onto police for investigation,” Acting Inspector Stewart Cashion said.
More to come …
INITIAL: A WELL-known North Hobart building under redevelopment to become a community-based mental health care centre has been gutted by fire on Christmas Eve.
Firefighters rushed to the Peacock Centre site on Elphinstone Rd, just off the main strip of North Hobart, about 8.30pm on Friday.
They were confronted with plumes of smoke and flames venting from the heritage building.
The Peacock Centre is currently subject to a $9.6m redevelopment by the state government to provide integrated and community-based mental health care.
It was set to bring a short stay 12-bed wing for people who needed extra care or integration back into the community following a hospital stay.
Building works on the project started earlier this year, and it was on track to be completed by mid-2022.
Nearby resident Wendy Falloon said she was having dinner in the backyard of her property with friends when she started smelling smoke.
“There was lots of smoke, but no flames at all initially, but by the time the fire brigades got here, there was massive flames,” she said.
“There was also popping noises.”
Dr Falloon said it was a sad situation given the redeveloped centre was going to help people in need.
“I’m absolutely sorry for all the hard work put in to rebuild this centre,” she said.
“The people who were going to use and benefit from it, who knows how much longer it will be now.
“It’s very disappointing and sad.”
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she didn’t notice anything until she heard the sirens of emergency service vehicles.
“I went outside and saw smoke,” she said.
“It’s a bit scary.”
The building had been the subject of an arson attack in 2016.
The woman has lived at her address for 10 years and also witnessed the previous fire at the site.
“It stunk,” she said of the previous fire.
“It’s not as bad this time.”
The latest blaze was so intense at its peak, flames and smoke were visible from Hobart CBD and North Hobart.
Road closures were in place around the scene while firefighters tackled the blaze.
Multiple police also attended the scene, as onlookers gathered and watched from the street.
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