By XAVIER SMERDON
A WERRIBEE business received significant damage during one of the busiest times of the year after a fire tore through it.
About 3.50am on Thursday 16 April Werribee Fire Brigade was paged for an undefined fire on Watton St near Wedge St. The crew of a patrolling police unit had noticed smoke coming from Kippers fish and chip shop.
Werribee volunteers responded along with the Hoppers Crossing and Point Cook fire brigades.
First Lieutenant Darryl Wells said the first crews to arrive could see flames coming from the roof.
“Within 15 minutes of arrival, the crews had the fire under control and contained to the room of origin, further time was then spent removing plaster from the ceiling and using a thermal imaging camera until all hot spots were located and extinguished,” First Lt Wells said.
“The estimated damage was $50,000 and the cause was an electrical fault as determined by a CFA fire investigator.
“The early discovery of the fire by the passing police patrol, the rapid response and aggressive fire fight carried out by Werribee volunteers supported by crews from Hoppers Crossing and Point Cook considerably reduced the fire damage to the shop.
“Although, the fire could not have happened at a worse time for the owners as they had just received all the fish for Good Friday.”
