Police are investigating a suspicious fire that broke out at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne earlier this morning, significantly damaging a heritage-listed grandstand and bar.
More than 65 firefighters rushed to the racetrack around 6.20am after receiving a call alerting them that one of the grandstands was alight.
The heritage–listed Norman Robinson Stand was up in flames when crews arrived, Fire Rescue Victoria’s Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dennis Smith told reporters.
“There’s a fair bit of timber there, so that probably helped it burn pretty well,” he said.
“This had a lot of potential to extend and be a much more significant fire and and really impact the racecourse.
“Thankfully, with their quick work and also some really good work from the internal fire systems, they were able to stop that from spreading to the adjoining grandstands.”
The Norman Robinson Stand and 1876 bar were both significantly damaged by the fire, Fire Rescue Victoria said.
No members of the community were injured in the blaze, however a firefighter required stitches to his hand.
The fire is being treated as suspicious and a crime scene established, Victoria Police said.
“Police are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has CCTV or dash-cam footage from the area,” police said in a statement.
Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga said he was “gutted” about the fire.
“It’s a heritage-listed stand, it’s a very old stand and a unique stand and one of the favourite stands for all of our members, so we’re gutted as a club, but we’re keen to rebuild.
Kanga said contingency plans were in place for a race scheduled tomorrow, which would likely be moved to Mornington racetrack.
