Blaze ‘destroys’ church on Pakington Street, Geelong West

Fire has gutted a Presbyterian church on Geelong West’s Pakington Street.
The CFA issued a warning about 5.30am for nearby residents to switch off air-conditioning and close windows as smoke from the blaze settled in the east of Pakington Street, toward Latrobe Terrace.
The fire has been described as suspicious, with the CFA believing it began about 4am.
The weatherboard church had been “destroyed”, the CFA said.
Firefighters have yet to enter the building due to concerns about its stability.
The fire is the latest in a series of church blazes around Victoria.
An historic Bannockburn Catholic church went up in flames six months ago. Police declared the site a crime scene as locals wept in the street over the blaze.