Fuel inferno cause unknown

Search for answers after huge blaze causes $800,000 in damage

EXTENSIVE fire investigation efforts have failed to determine the exact cause of a blaze that caused massive damage to a Drysdale service station site last week.

Large fuel loads and fierce heat meant flames tore through a storage yard at Mortimer Petroleum, forcing the evacuation of 50 homes, during the early hours of last Thursday.

Fire investigator for the CFA Ian Beswicke said teams spent almost three full days sifting through the remains on De Burgh Rd but were unable to pinpoint an exact cause.

However, he did say the fire started in the shed.

“We can find an area of origin, we know where the fire started, but we can’t find exactly what caused it. It could have been a number of things, an oily rag, electrical fault, tossed cigarette or lightning strike for example, but we can’t be 100 per cent sure,” Mr Beswicke said.

“Because of the heat and fuel loads, there was so much in there, that damage has contributed to not being able to determine an exact cause.”

The Mortimer family has reopened the untouched fuel bowsers and vowed to remain on the site, despite losing more than $800,000 in equipment and supplies.

The petrol station itself escaped relatively unscathed but the family business lost nine petrol and gas tankers.