Hobart Rd, Youngtown: Early morning blaze guts site
Police are investigating after what appears to have been a deliberately lit fire consumed a commercial property and damaged neighbouring caravans. SEE THE DAMAGE >
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UPDATED 2.30PM: Tasmania Police says approximately $400,000 worth of damage was caused in a suspected arson in the early hours of Sunday morning in the state’s north.
Tasmania Fire Services Crews were called at 2.50am to the fire at 385–387 Hobart Rd, Youngtown, a disused caryard.
The fire was extinguished at about 5.30am, with most of the main shed at workshop gutted.
“The premises, which was not occupied, was fully engulfed in flames when emergency services arrived,” a police spokeswoman said.
“It is estimated that $400,000 damage has been caused to the property.
“In addition, two new caravans at the property next door (New Age Caravans) were damaged by the heat of the fire.
“Fire investigators have determined that the cause of the fire is suspicious, and CIB detectives are now investigating.”
UPDATED 11.45AM: Tasmania Fire Service suspects an early morning blaze at a disused commercial site in the state’s north was deliberately lit.
Crews from Launceston and Rocherlea were dispatched to 385–387 Hobart Rd, Youngtown, following a triple-0 call at about 2.50am.
Crews battled the fire until about 5.30am.
A TFS investigator remains on-site. He said he was unable to share his initial findings as to the cause of the blaze or the amount of damage caused, but he did reveal his belief the fire was deliberately lit.
Tasmania Police has been contacted for comment.
EARLIER 8.45AM: A blaze has gutted a commercial site on a busy road in Tasmania’s north this morning, destroying a structure and causing damage to caravans belonging to a dealership next door.
A Tasmania Fire Service spokeswoman said crews from Launceston and Rocherlea were dispatched to 385–387 Hobart Rd, Youngtown, after members of the public contacted triple-0 about 2.50am to report the fire.
She said crews had the fire effectively under control by 5.30am, with crews remaining on-site to combat ‘hot spots’, remaining heat sources.
Pictures posted to social media appear to show the main structure at the front of the site, a shed, completely gutted by the blaze, panels warped due to the intensity of the heat.
The spokeswoman said TFS had yet to commence its investigation into the cause of the fire or quantify the damage. It is expected investigators will begin their work at approximately 9.30am.
The Hobart Rd site was formerly a second-hand car yard operated by Tamar Cars. It’s understood Tamar Cars ceased operating from the site at some point last year.
The business next door, understood to have suffered damage, is New Age Caravans, located at 389 Hobart Rd.
The TFS spokeswoman said the fire “extended into the business next door (causing) damage to caravans”.
The site subject to the blaze was most recently sold in May last year.
“(It was) most recently used as a car yard with automotive workshop the property is comprised of numerous sheds and offices, a four- bedroom brick home and large hard-stand area all spread across two titles,” the listing says.
“Zoned Light Industrial and flanked by residential and inner residential land, the site has much to recommend it for redevelopment... or repurposing the existing buildings to your businesses use.”
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