ON SCENE: Firefighters work to protect the adjoining buildings during the fire at the Midvale Shopping Centre last night. Picture: Hamish Blake
Click below to see a video report of last night’s blaze.
FIRE investigators have arrived at the scene of a fire that tore through the Mt Clear fish and chip shop last night.
It is hoped the investigators will determine the cause of the blaze, which is estimated to have caused about $200,000 damage, by about lunch time today.
Last night, the popular fish and chip shop sustained substantial damage in the fire, while adjoining shops suffered smoke and water damage.
The shop was closed at the time, and no one was injured in the blaze.
CFA incident controller Mark Cartledge said crews from Ballarat, Sebastopol and Buninyong were called to the Mt Clear Takeaway about 8.50pm.
“The shop was closed and locked up. We had to do forcible entry to gain access,” he said.
“The crews did a really good job.
“It took a good half-an-hour to contain. I’ve put it completely under control about an hour afterwards.”
He said the owners of the fish and chip shop had attended the scene last night and had spoken to CFA and police.
The cause of the fire was yet to be determined, with the CFA set to continue their investigations today.
Up to 100 people gathered at the scene last night to watch the action unfold.
Mt Clear resident Christine Moore said she saw thick smoke and flames rise 1.5 metres from the roof.
Mt Clear IGA owner Leo Ryan said he raced to the scene after receiving reports of a fire at Midvale.
He said the IGA was affected by smoke but otherwise it had escaped damage.
“The firies have luckily got onto it and stopped what could have been a real disaster,” he said.
Click here to view photos from the scene
Damian Cutler said he bolted to the scene when he saw the smoke because his wife owns the Bamboo Coffee House in the complex.
Resident Faisal Almadhi said he was at a nearby petrol station when he saw a lot of smoke and flames “big enough to be frightening”.
