Grant
Administrator
200 flee shopping centre fire
August 03, 2006 01:17pm
Article from: Herald-Sun
Matthew Schulz
TWO hundred patrons were evacuated from eight cinemas and a nearby restaurant at Werribee Plaza during a fire in an Italian restaurant this afternoon.
Sparked about 12.40pm in the flue of the La Porchetta restaurant, at least five patrons were treated for smoke inhalation, as smoke flooded into the neighbouring cinema.
CFA spokesperson Adele Buhagiar said six units and 35 fire fighters were battling the blaze, including a ladder unit.
Fire fighters were forced to break through the restaurant walls to get to the cause of the fire, which was brought under control about 40 minutes later.
“Barry” an off-duty fireman called radio station 3AW to say he'd seen black smoke billowing from the cinema roof and ran inside the complex to warn cinema staff.
He claimed he was told to leave the centre, despite warnings that customers could be at risk.
August 03, 2006 01:17pm
Article from: Herald-Sun
Matthew Schulz
TWO hundred patrons were evacuated from eight cinemas and a nearby restaurant at Werribee Plaza during a fire in an Italian restaurant this afternoon.
Sparked about 12.40pm in the flue of the La Porchetta restaurant, at least five patrons were treated for smoke inhalation, as smoke flooded into the neighbouring cinema.
CFA spokesperson Adele Buhagiar said six units and 35 fire fighters were battling the blaze, including a ladder unit.
Fire fighters were forced to break through the restaurant walls to get to the cause of the fire, which was brought under control about 40 minutes later.
“Barry” an off-duty fireman called radio station 3AW to say he'd seen black smoke billowing from the cinema roof and ran inside the complex to warn cinema staff.
He claimed he was told to leave the centre, despite warnings that customers could be at risk.