Windy conditions made it difficult for firefighters to control a blaze at the old Doveton Secondary School campus. – Melissa Meehan
FIERCE winds created difficult conditions for firefighters during a suspicious fire that destroyed a disused school hall.
Fire crews were called to the closed Doveton Secondary College campus, in Box Street, at 8.30pm on Saturday night, with members from Hallam and Doveton first on the scene.
Fire Officer Doug Broom said when crews arrived they were told by local residents that the hall was often used by squatters or as a meeting place for local youths.
“The fire was spreading very quickly,” he said.
“And when the residents told us what the building had been used for, it was important for us to make sure there was no-one inside.”
After crews confirmed no-one was inside they continued to fight the blaze, controlling the fire within two hours.
“It was very windy on Saturday night,” he said.
“There was a very strong northerly wind that was blowing the fire directly near other school buildings; luckily we were able to contain the fire just to the hall.”
Fire crews worked into the night and the following morning ensuring all spot fires were extinguished.
Mr Broom said that while the fire had been investigated and found to be suspicious, the cause was not specifically determined.
Doveton Secondary College merged with Dandenong High School in 2007 and as a result the Doveton campus closed on 1 December last year.
