VIC:Hundreds evacuated from fire in shop

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2010
VIC:Hundreds evacuated from fire in shop

MELBOURNE, Aug 1 AAP - About 250 shoppers and 20 workers were evacuated after a small
fire broke out in a department store in Melbourne's west.

The suspicious fire started in the hosiery section of the Big W store at Highpoint
shopping centre in Maribyrnong shortly before 3pm (AEST) on Sunday, Metropolitan Fire
Brigade (MFB) Commander Trevor Woodward said.

Smoke curtains were lowered to prevent the spread of smoke outside the shop as Big
W staff evacuated shoppers to a safe area.

All staff and customers were evacuated within seven minutes with no panic or injury,
Commander Woodward said.

Trading elsewhere in the centre was not affected.

It is believed several youths were responsible for the fire, which caused about $1,000
in damage to stock. Video footage of the incident has been handed to police.

AAP jrd/jel

KEYWORD: HIGHPOINT

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