UPDATE Thursday, December 13 10am
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A Stawell man in his late 30s will face court after being charged with setting fire to a unit in Stawell on Tuesday night.
The man was arrested and remanded in custody on Tuesday night, charged with criminal damage by fire, possession of weapons and various drug offences.
He will appear at Stawell Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, December 18 for a remand hearing. He resided in the property that was damaged in the fire.
Three Stawell fire brigade units with about 20 firefighters responded to the fire at about 7.30pm on Tuesday, with the property “well engulfed in flames”.
Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the flames in the property.
“No persons were home at the time of the fire,” CFA district 16 operations officer Ian Morley said.
”The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes with extensive damage to the house.
“There was only one minor injury to a firefighter who picked up something in their eye. They were assessed and are fine now.”
Mr Morley said there is “some suspected asbestos contamination” to the property behind the Stawell RSL.
Ararat Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Caroline Blackley said there was “extensive damage” to the unit.
“The whole unit was gutted,” she said.
“We attended on Tuesday night and deemed it to be deliberately lit.”
UPDATE Wednesday, December 12 10am
Fire investigators are looking into the cause of a fire at units on Ligar Street on Tuesday evening.
Three Stawell fire brigade units with about 20 firefighters responded to the fire at about 7.30pm on Tuesday, with the property “well engulfed in flames”.
“No persons were home at the time of the fire,” CFA district 16 operations officer Ian Morley said.
”The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes with extensive damage to the house.
“There was only one minor injury to a firefighter who picked up something in their eye. They were assessed and are fine now.”
Mr Morley said there is “some suspected asbestos contamination” to the property behind the Stawell RSL.
He had no information as to how the blaze started at the moment.
“Fire investigation is on the scene on Tuesday morning and they will look into the reason behind it.”
More to come.
Earlier Tuesday, December 11 7.30pm
Country Fire Authority crews are battling a house fire on Scallan Street in Stawell.
Heavy smoke could be seen coming from flames out of the house at about 7.30pm on Tuesday evening.
Community members are being urged to steer clear of the area.
More to come.