SPECIALISTS from the Metropolitan Fire Brigade will this morning investigate the cause of a massive blaze that caused $2 million worth of damage at a Laverton recycling depot last night.
A spokesman for the brigade said firefighters were initially restricted from entering the blazing building as it was of tilt-slab construction and there was a concern that it could collapse.
The Australian Paper Recovery centre was “totally involved” when fire crews at the Norwest Avenue complex at Laverton North.
The 80 by 60-metre factory was operated by a paper and plastic recycling business.
Rob Purcell, the MFB officer in charge at the scene, said fire investigators would be at the site from first light to determine what started the fire.
He said it was too early to tell if the fire was deliberately lit.
“But there is no indication suggesting that,” he said.
The factory, he said, was in an industrial estate and although there was plenty of smoke it was far enough away from homes not to cause concern to the public.
Up to 14 pumpers and 70 firefighters attended the scene at the height of the blaze with three aerial units also involved in fighting the fire.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the MFB’s Fire Investigation Unit.
It was brought under control just after 9pm, about two-and-a-half hours after it started.
