The Eurobodalla’s top cop has appealed for people with dashcam or CCTV footage from Vulcan Street in Moruya early yesterday morning to contact Batemans Bay Police Station.
We have obtained CCTV footage (below), which shows a new Indian Supermarket in the historic building being deliberately set on fire just before 3am.
The property also housed an LJ Hooker Real Estate office.
Chief Inspector John Sheehan said any additional useful content will be welcomed.
“We’re definitely looking for cars with dashcam footage,” he said.
“We’ll do a canvas and talk to all the business owners and download as much footage as we can but anyone driving round even people coming from Batemans Bay or from Bega towards Moruya anything from probably around that 12 o’clock or 1 o’clock through if they could let us know and we’ll get a copy of that footage.”
Fire crews have been praised for containing the blaze.
Up to 60 firefighters from as far away as Wollongong responded to the incident.
Fire and Rescue NSW Duty Commander Inspector Phillip Eberle said the nearby Moruya Fire Station crew were the first on scene.
“They fought the fire for 20, 25 minutes then started to get help from Narooma firefighters and Batemans Bay firefighters,” he said.
“Then as the fire escalated we brought in more resources from Nowra and Braidwood.
“There efforts without doubt have saved neighbouring properties. They’ve done and excellent job.
“Even saved some property at the rear of the building.
Yesterday afternoon firefighters sprayed the front of the historic building with a special PVA glue solution to contain asbestos within the structure.
Protective fencing is being erected around the site.
Speculation abounds in the town about the motive for the fire.
Up to 60 firefighters attended the blaze of the 100-year-old building on Vulcan Street that was home to LJ Hooker Real Estate and an Indian Supermarket, which only opened several days earlier.
Many locals told us they had purchased cheap cigarettes in the past few days from the new shop.
Moruya Business Chamber President Rob Pollack said everyone is shocked.
“The Moruya community is devastated by this action of blatant arson attack on two businesses in Moruya,” he said.
“The heritage of the town has been destroyed and now having to look for new premises and having to deal with a huge clean up.”
