A MAN has been charged with arson after five fires were lit in Laverton last night, including one that burned down a Scout hall.
Police arrested a Laverton man, 34, who will face Melbourne Magistrates Court later today.
He’s accused of starting four fires in grassland surrounding the Werribee rail line between 4-9.30pm before fire crews rushed to a large fire at the Laverton Scout hall on Railway Avenue at 10.30pm.
MFB commander Phil Taylor said they found the building ‘‘well alight’’ before breaking in and extinguishing the blaze.
It took 25 firefighters about 15 minutes to bring the fire under control.
Mr Taylor said police deemed the fire suspicious and declared the building a crime scene.
‘‘Our fire investigators and the arson squad are on scene today to establish the origin of the fire,’’ he said.
‘‘There were a number of other grass and scrub fires within a very short space of time in the lead-up to us getting that call.’’
Laverton Scouts spokesman Colin Price said 20 Scouts aged 7-15 used the hall each Monday.
‘‘We’re waiting to see if insurance will let us rebuild, and I’m going to talk with the local council to see if we can have access to another hall.
‘‘Hopefully we can get back on our own feet soon.’’
