Aged care fire

By Lilly O’Gorman
POLICE believe a fire which came within metres of sleeping residents at the Ron Andrews Nursing Home on Saturday night was deliberately lit.
The blaze at the Pakenham Aged Care facility was one of three suspicious fires in the area over the past week.
The nursing home fire completely destroyed a portable shed within the construction site at the aged care facility at the corner of Princes Highway and Ahern Road.
Police said some of the 32 residents were moved from their rooms by nursing staff and into the dining room as a precaution during the fire which started just before 3am.
Detective Senior Contable David Mealia from Cardinia CIU said it was very lucky no one was injured, and the situation could have easily resulted in tragedy.
“If the fire within the construction site had spread to the building, there was potential for catastrophic results,” Sen Const Mealia said.
President of the PAC Board of Management Rob Nobelius thanked the nursing staff and staff from McGregor Gardens Aged Care facility for their quick thinking during the emergency.
“Due to the quick thinking of staff, there was no real danger to our residents. They had the situation well and truly under control,” Mr Nobelius said.
“I am told that a couple of staff from McGregor Gardens were driving past and saw the smoke. They stopped and helped move residents from the room.
“I think it is lucky no damage was caused to our facility. We are very, very lucky that none of our residents were harmed in any way with the fire being that close to the building.”
PAC treasurer Michael Bishop said the incident was “very disappointing” and caused great concern, especially for the high-care residents closest to the blaze, who are the most vulnerable and dependant at the facility.
“(The fire) was close; only perhaps less than two or three metres from the wall where people were sleeping,” Mr Bishop said.
“I’m thankful it didn’t get any worse.”
PAC director of nursing Linda Austen said two residents in rooms closest to the fire were moved by nursing staff, while many of the other residents remained sleeping.
“A couple of the residents who had woken up were a bit concerned,” Ms Austen said.
“I am really proud of the way staff handled the situation and happy our emergency plan worked so well.”
The portable, sandwiched in a row of identical units and abutting the brick wall of the aged care facility, was completely razed by fire, yet the facility was free from damage and the other units bear black scorch marks.
It is believed the portable contained mainly plans and paper work belonging to the builders in charge of the $8.5 million upgrade to the PAC Ron Andrews Nursing Home.
It has been a tumultuous week for PAC after builders walked off the site last Tuesday 6 March, leaving development on hold and staff and the committee of management in the dark.
Mr Nobelius said it remained unclear why the builders had walked off the job and the board had sent a letter to the business from its solicitors.
Police haven’t ruled out a connection between the nursing home fire and a second fire lit about two hours earlier in Pakenham.
Sen Const Mealia said a small pile of rubbish was set alight on the footpath on Algerd Way, opposite Elfin Way, about 12.20am. The CFA attended and quickly extinguished the fire.
“We don’t know if the two fires are connected at this stage,” Sen Const Mealia said.
Anyone with information about either fire can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
In an unrelated incident, a 30-year-old Pakenham man was arrested and charged with one count of criminal damage following a blaze four days earlier in Tania Court, Pakenham.
About 9pm on Wednesday 7 March a fire started in the lounge room causing extensive damage to the front of the house. Smoke and water damage completely destroyed the entire home.
The man will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday 4 June.