Lucky escape from burning of Witches

By Rebecca Fraser
THEATRE director Paul Moder had a dramatic escape last week that not even he could have scripted.
The former Hallam resident was trapped last Thursday night when West Melbourne theatre restaurant Witches in Britches was set ablaze.
Mr Moder, 40, had stayed late to rehearse his latest production when a fire broke out about 10.45pm.
Two co-workers were lucky to escape outside a side door but the father of two was left trapped in the kitchen.
He tried to flee the raging blaze through a roller door but found it was locked.
Instead, he crawled low and tried to breathe through a narrow gap under the door.
The St Kilda resident was fortunate to have his mobile phone with him and quickly dialed 000 for help.
Mr Moder gave his location to emergency call operator Amanda Caller, who passed it to the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and stayed on the line with him to calm and reassure him that help was on the way.
Mr Moder was rescued by firefighters who used sledgehammers to break through the locked door.
Mr Moder said he had feared for his life and believed that had he not had his phone it would have taken emergency crews much longer to find him.
“I knew that it was the toxic smoke that kills you but the phone operator was fantastic and calmed me down until help arrived,” he said.
Seven metropolitan fire crews fought the blaze, which took 20 minutes to bring under control.
The fire caused an estimated $400,000 damage, but in true showbusiness style, Mr Moder said the show would go on. “It will hopefully be back soon,” he said.