Police are appealing to the public to assist with their investigation into a suspicious fire at the old Kinnears rope factory site in Footscray on Tuesday 4 November.
Firefighters were called to the scene on the corner of Ballarat Road and Farnsworth Avenue just after 6.30pm following reports of flames and smoke coming from the site.
The fire was brought under control by 7.20pm and then turned over to police.
Detective Senior Constable Greg Martin said he believes the fire, which caused significant disruption, damage and pollution was deliberately lit.
“Despite a thorough investigation, we’re yet to identify the person responsible and call on anyone with information who is yet to speak to police to contact Crime Stoppers,” Detective Senior Constable Martin said.
The fire on Melbourne Cup day was the fourth suspicious blaze at the Kinnears site in the past 18 months.
On 13 July, an abandoned warehouse on the site caught fire, while 12 months earlier, two fires occurred there within the space of two days, on 31 July and 2 August.
All four fires are still being investigated, as are any possible links between them.
In March 2017, three people squatting on the site were murdered when a fire was deliberately lit.
In 2019, Darren Patrick Clover, then 54, plead guilty to starting the fire which killed the three people.
He was subsequently jailed for 30 years.
Anyone with information on the 4 November fire can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at: www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
