By Casey Neill
Fire destroyed a unit on Robinson Street in Dandenong and forced the neighbouring Family Court building to close.
Just a few hours later, firefighters extinguished a blaze in a clothing shop located just minutes away that appeared to have been deliberately lit.
Firefighters from the Dandenong and Hallam brigades were called to the three-storey unit block in Robinson Street just after 5am on Thursday 8 September.
Dandenong Fire Station officer in charge Paul Carrigg said they arrived to find a financial advisor office or similar on the bottom floor was fully involved.
“It took them about 30 minutes to get it under control,” he said.
Mr Carrigg said smoke created dangerous carbon monoxide levels in the courthouse.
When CFA members declared it was safe to enter, court staff found the building needed cleaning and kept it closed to the public.
Mr Carrigg said police and CFA investigators had not yet determined the fire’s cause.
He said firefighters attended another fire shortly after, at a clothing shop in the Hub Arcade in McCrae Street, Dandenong.
“Fire brigade crews received the call at 9.18am. The fire was under control within a short period, less than 10 minutes,” he said.
“Crews worked for some time to get rid of the smoke from the building.”
He said a 28-year-old man was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation.
“The cause appears to be deliberate,” he said.
“It’s the subject of investigation this afternoon (Thursday) with the police and CFA.”
