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A 43-year-old man has been charged following a fire at a funeral home in Warragul, Victoria, on Wednesday evening, 23 September 2026. Police allege the man walked along Howitt Street towards the funeral home on Korumb...
A 43-year-old man has been charged following a fire at a funeral home in Warragul, Victoria, on Wednesday evening, 23 September 2026.
Police allege the man walked along Howitt Street towards the funeral home on Korumburra-Warragul Road at about 7:30pm. Investigators allege that several windows on the side of the building were smashed before an item was thrown inside, starting a fire. The man allegedly then fled on foot along Landsborough Street.
A staff member was inside the funeral home when the incident occurred. The person was able to self-evacuate and was not injured, according to police. Emergency services attended the scene and dealt with the fire, while detectives established a crime scene as part of their investigation.
Police subsequently searched the surrounding area and arrested a 43-year-old Warragul man nearby. The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Baw Baw Crime Investigation Unit.
The man has been charged with several offences, including criminal damage by arson, reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, and allegedly committing an indictable offence while on bail.
He was remanded in custody and was due to face the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court on 24 September 2026.
The fire caused significant damage to the funeral home, while the circumstances behind the alleged attack remain under investigation. Police have not publicly established a motive in the available information.
The incident attracted attention in Warragul because it occurred at a local business while a staff member was inside the building. The employee's ability to escape without physical injury meant there were no reported injuries from the fire, although the building sustained substantial damage.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged arson. Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident or has CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to come forward.
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court. The accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless the charges are proven through the legal process.
ABC's Gippsland local news briefing also reported the arrest on Thursday morning, confirming that police were investigating the fire and that the staff member inside escaped uninjured.
FirePoliceFuneralHomeInside
A 43-year-old man has been charged following a fire at a funeral home in Warragul, Victoria, on Wednesday evening, 23 September 2026.
Police allege the man walked along Howitt Street towards the funeral home on Korumburra-Warragul Road at about 7:30pm. Investigators allege that several windows on the side of the building were smashed before an item was thrown inside, starting a fire. The man allegedly then fled on foot along Landsborough Street.
A staff member was inside the funeral home when the incident occurred. The person was able to self-evacuate and was not injured, according to police. Emergency services attended the scene and dealt with the fire, while detectives established a crime scene as part of their investigation.
Police subsequently searched the surrounding area and arrested a 43-year-old Warragul man nearby. The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Baw Baw Crime Investigation Unit.
The man has been charged with several offences, including criminal damage by arson, reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, and allegedly committing an indictable offence while on bail.
He was remanded in custody and was due to face the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court on 24 September 2026.
The fire caused significant damage to the funeral home, while the circumstances behind the alleged attack remain under investigation. Police have not publicly established a motive in the available information.
The incident attracted attention in Warragul because it occurred at a local business while a staff member was inside the building. The employee's ability to escape without physical injury meant there were no reported injuries from the fire, although the building sustained substantial damage.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged arson. Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident or has CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to come forward.
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court. The accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless the charges are proven through the legal process.
ABC's Gippsland local news briefing also reported the arrest on Thursday morning, confirming that police were investigating the fire and that the staff member inside escaped uninjured.
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