A tragic fire has completely devastated International Cabinets, a family-owned business in Balcatta, Perth, leaving its owners reeling and unsure about their future. The alarm was raised around 7.30pm on Tuesday by a monitoring company, and a resident from a nearby property also alerted emergency services after witnessing flames erupting from the roof.
One of the owners tried to save the business by rushing to the site but suffered burns to his hands while attempting to open a roller door. Approximately 50 firefighters battled the blaze for four hours, successfully containing it and preventing it from spreading to adjacent properties. Unfortunately, the fire’s intensity resulted in one firefighter needing medical attention for heat exhaustion.
Due to the toxic smoke being released from the burning warehouse, a local gym with over 150 patrons had to be evacuated as a precaution. The fire caused the roof of the cabinetry and furniture warehouse to collapse, but staff managed to rescue vital business records, awards, and memorabilia from a connected office.
Rocco Fazzari, the 81-year-old founder who started the company 52 years ago, expressed his grief over the situation as the family begins to search for temporary premises to continue their operations. The exact cause of the fire remains unclear; however, authorities are facing difficulties in investigating due to the structural collapse. Heavy machinery will be required to lift the roof and enable a detailed search for any potential clues.
Witness Colin Austen described the scene as “pretty horrible,” marking a somber chapter for this long-standing family business now left to navigate the path forward amidst significant loss.