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Fire at Victoria Ranges Gym 17-Nov-2004 At 10:59:21 AM M

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From the AGE

Equipment blamed for factory fire
November 16, 2004 - 2:52PM

Faulty electrical equipment was likely to blame for last week's $20 million blaze at a Melbourne paper warehouse, fire investigators said today.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) fire investigation manager Ian Hunter said there were no suspicious circumstances involved in the inferno at Lombard The Paper People premises in Mt Alexander Road, Flemington, last Friday.

"We've identified some items of electrical equipment that we're reasonably certain that's where the fire started," he said.

Investigators finished the physical investigation of the site yesterday afternoon.

They would now submit the electrical equipment for forensic examination and re-construct the scene with company employees, possibly tomorrow, Mr Hunter said.

Flames shot 30 metres into the air as the fire destroyed much of the warehouse and adjoining indoor climbing centre and pistol range.

Demolition crews were today still working to clear away the debris of the building, which was constructed of iron sheeting.

There were no sprinklers installed inside the factory.

Lombard supplies about 10 per cent of the paper and paper products industry nationally.

The company lost all of its Christmas stock in the fire, owner Claude Lombard said.

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, who visited the scene, pledged the state government's support to help the business recover.

- AAP