KIM WATERS
INVESTEGATORS have ruled out arson as the cause of a fire in Barwon Heads’ post.
Geelong Country Fire Authority operations manager Graham Lay said an electrical fault probably sparked the blaze.
The two-storey building suffered “moderate structural damage”, he said.
“The floor area of the upper storey, the ceiling of the lower storey, collapsed. We’re pretty confident (the fire) was caused by a faulty electrical wire setting in the post office.”
Mr Lay said four CFA trucks from Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads and two from Geelong attended the fire about 3.30am Tuesday.
Twenty-five firefighters had the blaze under control within 30 minutes.
Mr Lay said the impact spread to other businesses on Hitchcock Ave.
“Four or five were affected with smoke damage and another was unable to operate due to power being cut off.”