Arson ruled out in supply store fire

THE Rabaul Area Medical Store had electricity supplied to its condemned warehouse when it burnt down recently, an internal investigation has revealed.
East New Britain provincial fire station commander Edward Tommy said from investigations launched into the incident, they discovered that an electrical fault was the cause and not arson as initially suspected.
Apparently, PNG Power had reconnected supply to the warehouse from the appropriate power pole on Sept 30 after disconnecting supply in March.
The fire was said to have started after an initial explosion at the power pole before it hit the meter box outside the building, raising questions on who had authorised for the power to be installed after it was condemned by the Health Department.
The value of medical drugs lost in the fire was K2.5 million.
Together with the three vehicles, the total cost was K2.7 million.
Tommy said the costs for damaged equipment and containers of medicinal drugs and apparatus were yet
to be disclosed.
Meanwhile, a team from the National Health Department is currently in ENB to conduct their own investigation.
However, the investigation report highlighted that the power pole had been missing a fuse that was supposed to have come with the service line. It was discovered on Friday afternoon that one was installed the day after the building was engulfed in flames.
Tommy said only one of the two fire trucks was used in their attempt to put out
the fire as the other was under repair.