UPDATE 4pm: A police spokesman said the fire may be related to an incident on Saturday at the Gilles Street toilet block where a young male on a bike was seen setting fire to toilet rolls and throwing them into the toilet.
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A passerby stomped out the fire.
The Standard previously reported on toilet fires in late November. There has been five fires in Warrnambool amenities over the past six months.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Warrnambool police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 000 333.
The Centrepoint arcade is home to The Hut cafe and bakery Jane Dough.
UPDATE 11.50am: Warrnambool Senior Station Officer Rob Howell said at 10.34am this morning there was a report of smoke and flames coming from the arcade.
“We responded with four appliances and 12 firefighters,” he said.
“On arrival smoke was down to the floor of the arcade. Occupants above the arcade had been evacuated and there was no one inside the building.
“Four firefighters donned breathing apparatus and took a hose to determine the source of the the fire to extinguish it. The fire was halfway down in an alcove.”
Senior Station Officer Howell said the fire was extinguished within a matter of minutes.
“We ventilated the building then checked for any roof fires,” he said.
“The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.”
He said there was no obvious cause and the fire would be investigated.
EARLIER: A FIRE broke out in Centrepoint Arcade in Warrnambool’s CBD on Sunday morning.
Warrnambool resident Nicole Gynes alerted emergency services to the incident.
She said she saw flames as she was making her way through the arcade, which has access from Liebig Street to the Coles car park.
“I went to cut through the arcade and saw the display across from The Hut cafe was on fire,” she said,
“It was pretty significant flames and I could smell smoke.
“I raced out and rang 000.
“There was a lady and her granddaughter walking through and there was someone cleaning in Jane Dough bakery so I told her too. It all happened pretty quickly.”
She said residents from the upstairs apartments were also evacuated.
“It’s pretty scary,” she said.
“It’s an eye-opener to how quickly fire goes.”
Police said the fire inspector was on the way to investigate the fire.
MORE TO COME.