NEWS DESK
Bush blaze arrested in its tracks
Death at motorbike track park
Continued from Page 1 The CFA advised residents to evacuate to a safe point at Carrum Downs Shopping Centre while firefighters brought the blaze under control. Firefighters also tackled a grass and scrub fire in Hastings at Cemetery Rd on Saturday afternoon. A water bomber was called in to douse the fire that burned close to a BlueScope Steel oil and gas pipeline. The two fires were among about 50 across Victoria reported to firefighters. Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley defended a decision not to issue an emergency warning for the Carrum Downs fire. “Even though there may be structures alight, or there may be fences alight or outbuildings that’s something the incident controller will determine about what is the immediate threat versus the immediate threat to life and injury,” he said at a media briefing. “Obviously that’s a dynamic environment. “The emergency warning is where there is imminent danger to your life.”
A YOUNG motorbike rider died after an accident at the Frankston Motorcycle Park last month. Sebastian D’Imperio, 16, a student at Frankston’s John Paul College, died at the Seaford track on Saturday 16 December. It is understood that no other bikes were involved in the fatal accident. The Frankston City Motorcycle Park Club immediately temporarily but indefinitely closed the motocross bike tracks at the park. The club issued a statement on its Facebook page saying it will work with Frankston Council, police and Motorcycling Victoria during investigations into the fatality. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the kind young man who lost his life,” the club said. Police will prepare a report for the coroner. Council is the landlord of the premises at 92 Old Wells Rd in Seaford. A GoFundMe online fundraising campaign raised more than $36,000 to help the 16-year-old’s family with funeral costs. A memorial service was held at Mentone’s St Patricks Catholic Church on 21 December. The fatality comes almost three years after the death of 25-year-old Danny Edlington in a collision on the main track at the Frankston Motorcycle Park in April 2015. The coroner’s office is expected to release the findings into the 2015 fatality this year.
Fire front: Firefighting crews tackled a bush blaze at Carrum Downs on Saturday aided by water bombers, far right, as residents from nearby Flora Park Way stayed on alert in case the fire spread. Pictures: Gary Sissons
Wednesday 10th January
10am - 2pm
Frankston Times 8 January 2018
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