By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
POLICE are searching for a man who was seen fleeing a fire at a former Endeavour Hills high school last Thursday night and another man who chased after him.
Casey CIU detectives believe he entered the abandoned Endeavour Hills Secondary College gymnasium in Amalfi Drive just after 11.30pm and left shortly before flames engulfed the building.
A witness chased the man down an embankment on Power Road but he fled across the Monash Freeway.
Detectives said he was described as Caucasian in appearance and aged in his late teens to early twenties, with dark hair.
He was wearing a black top at the time.
Brigades from Dandenong, Hallam, Casey, Hampton Park, Narre Warren, Frankston and Scoresby – roughly 14 trucks in total – attended the fire around 11.45pm that night.
It’s understood the blaze took an hour to bring under control and a further three hours to extinguish completely.
“Firefighters had some difficulty getting water so they called for specialised hoses and numerous pumping appliances for support, which made a huge difference to how quickly we were able to bring the fire under control,” Operations Officer Paul Carrigg said.
“The building was detached to the other parts of the school, so the fire was contained to one building.”
Police want to speak to anyone with information regarding the fire, including the witness who chased the man away.
This witness is described as Caucasian in appearance and was wearing a black long-sleeved top, a fluoro work vest and black shorts.
He is not believed to be involved in the fire.
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
