Times & MAFF FR RA R A SPECTA CTATOR OR
74 Macalister Street, Sale WEATHER
www.gippslandtimes.com.au
TUESDAY, 6 JUNE, 2023
Wednesday Shower or two - Min: 8 Max: 21
Thursday Showers - Min: 11 Max: 16
Tel: 03 5143 9333
$1.70 Inc. GST INSIDE
Friday Partly cloudy - Min: 6 Max: 15
PropertyGuide GippslandTimes
SALE BLAZE Zoe Askew
ASH CHIEF SPEAKS COMMENT - PAGE 2
POOLSIDE Heating & Leisure in Sale was destroyed by a large fire that broke out in the early hours of Saturday morning, inflicting damage to numerous nearby businesses. Emergency services were called to a large fire that engulfed the local home heating, pool and barbecue retailed on Foster St around 12.45am on Saturday. Detective Seargent Margaret Schulz from Wellington Crime Investigation Unit said emergency services received two separate calls reporting the building fire in the early hours of Saturday morning. “The fire took some time to extinguish,” Detective Seargent Schulz said. “Fire and police were on site until late Saturday afternoon, with CFA returning to monitor the scene after the fire had been extinguished. “Yesterday (Sunday, June 4) Fire Investigation Unit from Fire Rescue
Victoria conducted an examination of the scene. “The fire has been deemed not suspicious.” Detective Sergeant Schulz commended the CFA and FRV for their efforts in controlling and extinguishing the fire and protecting neighbouring businesses. “The CFA did a fantastic job protecting the surrounding buildings,” she said. “CFA and FRV crews came from as far as Traralgon.” CFA District 10 Commander Ian Bounds reported more than 60 personnel from CFA and FRV attended the large fire that destroyed Poolside Sale Heating & Leisure and damaged nearby solar retailer Rocky’s Solar and trade hardware supplier Dahlsens. Commander Bounds said it took CFA and FRV a considerable amount of time to bring the fire under control. “It took about three hours to bring the fire under control and then another three to four hours before the fire was fully extinguished,” he said.
“Local fire brigades certainly restricted the fire going into other businesses and certainly saved other businesses and joining properties. “Poolside, that business is a complete loss; however, Rocky’s and Dahlsens, because of the efforts of the crews on the scene, damage was minimal, and they will be back up and running today (Monday, June 5) with some assistance from the Wellington Shire Council.” The fire on Foster St was classified as significant by Commander Bounds. “Certainly for the community of Sale, it was a very significant fire, obviously affecting local businesses,” he said. “I’ve only been here 12 months, so I can’t comment too much, but it would be one of the most significant fires in the last few years to impact the community.” While the incident was declared nonsuspicious by emergency services, the substantial damage to Poolside Heating & Leisure has limited enquiries into how the fire originated. “Due to the damage, it has been
extremely hard to identify the specific cause, but we have ruled out any malicious or criminal activity,” Commander Bounds said. “It is possible that it started by an electrical fault, but due to the damage, we weren’t able to pinpoint the actual cause.” No injuries occurred during the incident. “The fire was quite dangerous initially and could have had significant impacts on the neighbouring properties and also posed injuries to firefighters, but the crews acted in a safe manner and achieved a good outcome in the end,” Commander Bounds said. “It was a great collaborative effort from CFA and FRV crews.” Rocky’s Solar and Dahlsens is operating as usual. Poolside Heating & Leisure scene remains closed to the public.
ENTERTAINMENT SECTION
Photo: John Morgan
PAGE 11
FEMALE FOOTY FESTIVAL
Fire destroyed Poolside Heating & Leisure Centre, Sale on Saturday morning.
PAGE 8
Stock S tock a available vailable and a nd rready eady ffor or d delivery elivery
How do I get to Hair Is Kanyemba? WALK IN TODAY
Get in before the instant asset write-off expiry date
SALE MITSUBISHI
273 York Street, Sale
Phone: 5144 1311 GP1646031
HAIR IS KANYEMBA
View all our cars at www.salemitsubishi.com.au LMCT. 12209
GP165 GP165
Raymond Street, Sale
Phone 5144 5746 “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates