RESIDENTS ESCAPE FROM UNIT FIRE ABOVE CAFE
A FIRE at a West Hobart unit above popular Pigeon Hole Cafe has caused about $300,000 damage and forced two occupants to flee the premises.
The blaze broke out just before 2am on Monday, starting in an outdoor undercover annex and spreading to the residential unit nearby, Tasmania Fire Service station officer Marcus Skelly said.
Fire crews from Hobart and Glenorchy were soon on scene, finding the unit ablaze. Police closed the intersection of Goulburn and Molle streets for several hours.
“The fire investigation determined the fire was caused by an electrical fault within the refrigerator,” Mr Skelly said.
“The refrigerator was in an outdoor undercover and secure annex.
“The fire destroyed the annex plus the contents stored in the annex and then spread to the interior of the unit. The unit was significantly damaged.”
There were two occupants in the unit at the time.
“A female resident received medical treatment for minor injuries,” Mr Skelly said.
After a phone call at 2am to say “your shop is alight”, Pigeon Hole Cafe co-owner Richard Weston said he was “blessed” to find out his premises had not sustained any fire or water damage.
The business was closed on Monday as a precaution and is expected to be open again on Tuesday.
“We are quite fortunate, to be honest. At this point, it doesn’t look like we have sustained any damage in structure to the building,” Mr Weston said.
“This is based on the construction of concrete slabs and firewalls. The only little thing we are working through is a couple of little electrical damages.
“It was all contained to the flat upstairs and our thoughts go out to the young girl injured and taken to hospital last night.”
Mr Weston and wife and business co-owner Belinda were racked with fear to hear of the fire, which “was quite a ferocious fire by all accounts” and said they have had countless messages of support from loyal customers.