Flammable liquid was poured around the window sills of a Redan house before the building was set alight early Monday morning, police say.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Police and firefighters were called to two suspicious fires in Rubicon Street, Redan in the early hours of Monday morning that they believe are linked.
Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Steve Howard said firefighters were called to the first house, a vacant property in the process of being renovated, at 2.30am.
Unknown offenders broke into the property which they rifled through before lighting a pile of builder’s rubbish on fire, Detective Sergeant Howard said.
“We don’t believe there was any damage … and it has not been determined if anything was stolen,” Detective Sergeant Howard said.
The same offenders are believed to have broken into the shed of a neighbouring property, while the owner slept, stealing a bicycle and electrical items.
While police and firefighters were at the scene of the fire, a resident drove past to inform police another house, a few blocks down, was well alight.
The firefighters, who had extinguished the pile of rubbish rushed to second more severe fire to find two occupants trapped in the house.
Detective Sergeant Howard said firefighters evacuated the two residents – a woman in her 50s and man in his 20s.
An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman confirmed the woman suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to Ballarat Base Hospital in a stable condition for treatment.
The man was assessed by paramedics at the scene.
Arson chemists determined a flammable liquid was poured around the front of the building and was set alight. That same liquid is not believed to have been used in the rubbish fire.
Detective Sergeant Howard said the property’s front lounge was badly destroyed by the fire and the rest of the house was damaged by smoke.
“We’re trying to ascertain that they (the three crimes) are linked given the (short) time period,”
Detective Sergeant Howard said police were yet to determine a motive for the thefts.
Anyone who saw anything suspicious at the time or who knows any information is urged to make a report.
The report can be confidential and made to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or police 5336 6000.