Designwyse managing director Robert Kloester says his company did everything it could to ensure the building destroyed in last week’s $7.5 million monster blaze in Dandenong met building regulations and fire safety standards.
By Shaun Inguanzo
THE owner of a Dandenong computer store that was burnt to a crisp in last week’s multimillion-dollar blaze says he did everything possible to ensure the building was fire safe and compliant with building regulations.
And Robert Kloester said he is not responsible for modifications to a nearby fire hydrant that firefighters said had been made unusable and delayed the fire fight.
The Dandenong Country Fire Authority last week said it would consider prosecutions against whoever modified the fire hydrant at the commercial site of last week’s fire at 200 Princes Highway, Dandenong.
The fire burnt the Designwyse Australia computer store and a neighbouring furniture store to the ground.
But firefighters complained after poor water pressure and volume in the hydrant forced them to close the Princes Highway during peak hour to run four high-pressure hoses across the major road to other hydrants.
Officer in charge at Dandenong CFA Trevor Owen said a team of firefighters was investigating the circumstances, and that the CFA had the power to prosecute people where buildings did not meet regulations, or where fire hydrants and other on-site equipment were tampered with.
But this week Designwyse Australia, one of the nation’s largest Apple computer resellers, said it did everything in its power to avoid fire from breaking out.
The inferno destroyed clients’ computers which were on the premises for repairs, personal belongings and stock.
Mr Kloester said he had purchased Unit Four of the complex more than 10 year ago and that at the time it complied with building regulations.
Feeling that the timber wall dividing his shop from a furniture store was insufficient, Mr Kloester said he upgraded the wall with metal cladding and that it only partially burnt down in the fire as a result.
Firefighters had last week criticised the wall for not meeting building regulations for fire safety.
Mr Kloester said Designwyse used a private company to maintain fire equipment, with the latest inspection being in April this year and some maintenance performed soon after.
“Had they advised either of the property owners about any other special fire equipment that we were required to maintain, then we would most certainly have had them do so on our behalf,” Mr Kloester said.
“In fact only last year we had them specifically advise us regarding the front property hydrants and equipment and we were assured at the time that we did not need to do anything in this regard.”
Mr Kloester described the fire as ‘turmoil’ for Designwyse’s staff.
He said the company had reopened this week at new premises in 1 Fairborne Way, Keysborough.
The phone number, fax number and website will remain the same, he said.
Mr Kloester assured customers that all computers and equipment would be replaced and that the company would not wait for insurance money to come through.
“Our customers have been loyal to us, so we will be loyal to them,” he said.
