Fire tears through vacant Lavington caravan park building, squatters reported in area

Evidence of squatting was found at the former office site of the closed Albury Caravanna Caravan Park on Wagga Road.

The business has been closed and the site was sold for $760,000 nearly 12 months ago.

Demountable units at the site have been sold off.

Firefighter Simon Huggett said there had been evidence of people squatting in the front building, which caught on fire about 5.45pm on Monday.

Firefighters remained on scene for about an hour-and-a-half but the building was extensively damaged.

“Neighbours said there had been squatters in there,” Mr Huggett said.

“Someone else suggested it might have been kids.

“They were long gone by the time the fireys turned up.”

A sweep was done inside the building to make sure no-one had been inside.

The brigades then turned their attention to the exterior in a bid to control the flames.

“They couldn’t find anyone in there,” Mr Huggett said.

Police forensic investigators attended the property on Tuesday morning.

The freehold for the business – which once had 52 sites – had been listed for sale for $1.3 million in January 2016.

The land was worth nearly $6 million back in 2004.

Mr Huggett also stressed the importance of smoke alarms after a separate incident in Lavington on Monday afternoon.

A Hartley Street house filled with smoke after an air conditioner solenoid burnt out about 1.35pm.

The  occupant did not have an alarm installed.

“If it was 1.30am instead of 1.30pm, it could have been a fatality,” Mr Huggett said.

“They did say they kept the air conditioner on overnight.

“People don’t notice or smell smoke in their sleep.

“The more carbon monoxide you inhale, the deeper you sleep, so even if the home doesn’t fully catch alight it can kill you when there’s no smoke alarm to wake you up.”

It follows a fire which gutted a home in Thurgoona last Wednesday. 

A 10-year-old boy escaped from the Honeysuckle Street home uninjured. 

A Wahgunyah home was also destroyed at the start of the month, with owner Michael Schindler accused of torching the Victoria Street property.