Fire Damages Tobacco Shop and Nearby Businesses in Victorian Town
By Chloe · Published 28 Oct 2026 · Updated 28 Oct 2026
Cobden, VIC
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Fire Damages Tobacco Shop and Nearby Businesses in Victorian Town - Cobden, VIC
Smart summary
A fire at a recently opened tobacco shop in Cobden damaged several neighbouring businesses and led to road closures as emergency crews responded.
The fire broke out at approximately 6:15am on Curdie Street in Cobden, a town in south-west Victoria with a population of around 1,800. Emergency services arrived to find the tobacco shop fully engulfed in flames. The business had opened only about two months earlier, making the incident a serious setback for a recently established local retailer.
Firefighters worked for around two hours to bring the blaze under control. Country Fire Authority commander Rob Howell said the fire also damaged at least three adjoining shops in the shopping arcade. Authorities closed roads around the affected area while emergency crews responded and investigators began examining the scene.
The fire caused disruption to businesses along the town’s main street. The neighbouring shops were not expected to open that day because of the damage and the need to assess the safety of the buildings. For small regional businesses, closures can mean lost trading hours, damaged stock and uncertainty about when normal operations can resume.
Brendan Cook, who works at the IGA supermarket across the road, described seeing smoke and flames coming from the building as he arrived for work. He also heard several loud bangs while the fire was burning. The cause of those noises had not been established in the initial report.
Victoria Police declared the site a crime scene and began investigating whether the fire was deliberately lit. An arson chemist was expected to examine the tobacco shop to help determine how the blaze started. At the time of the report, police had not publicly confirmed a cause or announced charges in connection with this particular fire.
Investigators will examine the scene for evidence that could help establish where the fire began and whether any suspicious activity preceded it. Evidence from the building, witness accounts and any available surveillance footage may assist the investigation.
Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident, has relevant dashcam or CCTV footage, or holds other information to contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.
The fire has highlighted the vulnerability of closely connected businesses in small shopping precincts, where a blaze at one premises can quickly affect several others. While firefighters prevented the incident from continuing uncontrolled, the full extent of the damage and the time required for neighbouring businesses to reopen remained uncertain.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the circumstances behind the fire.
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The fire broke out at approximately 6:15am on Curdie Street in Cobden, a town in south-west Victoria with a population of around 1,800. Emergency services arrived to find the tobacco shop fully engulfed in flames. The business had opened only about two months earlier, making the incident a serious setback for a recently established local retailer.
Firefighters worked for around two hours to bring the blaze under control. Country Fire Authority commander Rob Howell said the fire also damaged at least three adjoining shops in the shopping arcade. Authorities closed roads around the affected area while emergency crews responded and investigators began examining the scene.
The fire caused disruption to businesses along the town’s main street. The neighbouring shops were not expected to open that day because of the damage and the need to assess the safety of the buildings. For small regional businesses, closures can mean lost trading hours, damaged stock and uncertainty about when normal operations can resume.
Brendan Cook, who works at the IGA supermarket across the road, described seeing smoke and flames coming from the building as he arrived for work. He also heard several loud bangs while the fire was burning. The cause of those noises had not been established in the initial report.
Victoria Police declared the site a crime scene and began investigating whether the fire was deliberately lit. An arson chemist was expected to examine the tobacco shop to help determine how the blaze started. At the time of the report, police had not publicly confirmed a cause or announced charges in connection with this particular fire.
Investigators will examine the scene for evidence that could help establish where the fire began and whether any suspicious activity preceded it. Evidence from the building, witness accounts and any available surveillance footage may assist the investigation.
Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident, has relevant dashcam or CCTV footage, or holds other information to contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.
The fire has highlighted the vulnerability of closely connected businesses in small shopping precincts, where a blaze at one premises can quickly affect several others. While firefighters prevented the incident from continuing uncontrolled, the full extent of the damage and the time required for neighbouring businesses to reopen remained uncertain.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the circumstances behind the fire.
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