Cars burn in heat of the night

POLICE arrested two people after two cars, one a police car, were burnt out following a highspeed chase in the Beaconsfield Berwick area on Thursday night.
The pursuit started about 10.15pm near the Princes Highway Soldiers Road area when police moved to intercept the stolen car.
The pursuit continued through several nearby back streets and through a paddock. It ended near Earlsfield Drive in the Kingsmere Estate when the stolen car was dumped about 10.25pm and three people fled.
The fire brigade became involved after the hot exhaust of the stolen car started a grass fire.
Police searched the area and arrested a 27yearold man and a dog squad unit was called.
A woman, 27, was later arrested about 11.20pm. A third person believed to have been in the car is still missing.
Police said the man and the woman who had been arrested would be interviewed in relation to the theft of a vehicle and the driver will be spoken to in relation to driving offences.
The car, now a write off, had been recently stolen from the Altona area.
Police found when they returned with the two people under arrest the fire had burnt out both cars.
Beaconsfield Fire Brigade was called with back up from Berwick.
Beaconsfield lieutenant Matt di Carlo said Beaconsfield was called to deal with a small fire which started when grass ignited from the hot car.
Lieutenant di Carlo said wind blew the flames back to the police car.
“Both cars are a write off,” he said.
Jim Mynard