Health minister sounds alarm over arson attacks after another tobacconist destroyed by fire
A fire that destroyed a tobacco shop in Corrimal is being treated as suspicious. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
In short:
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has raised concerns about arson attacks after a tobacconist in his electorate is destroyed by fire.
Police are treating a fire which destroyed a tobacconist in the Wollongong suburb of Corrimal as suspicious.
What's next?
Police are asking witnesses to come forward.
The NSW health minister has raised concerns about a string of tobacconists burning down after a business in his local electorate was destroyed in suspicious circumstances at the weekend.
About 40 firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW responded to the blaze which ripped through the Russell Street retail outlet at around 7:00pm on Sunday.
Three residents were evacuated from a nearby unit block as firefighters worked to stop the flames spreading to neighbouring buildings.
Residents in a unit block nearby were evacuated while firefighters fought the Corrimal blaze. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
In a statement, police said there were no injuries and the fire was being treated as suspicious.
The shop was destroyed.
The incident occurred in the local electorate of NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park.
The Member for Keira said "alleged arsonists" could be responsible for the blaze.
"This is extremely concerning for me both as a local member and as a resident," he said.
The fire comes a month after another tobacconist in Ettalong on the NSW Central Coast was destroyed in an arson attack.
Mr Park said some tobacco shops had been associated with organised crime.
"If we don't get on top of this and we continue to see the proliferation of these stores popping up all over the place, that's bad news for the community and terrible for our local towns," Mr Park said.
New legislation introduced
The incident came just 24 hours after the NSW government announced tougher laws to crack down on the sale of illicit tobacco and vaping goods.
Under the new legislation, an offence involving the commercial possession of illicit tobacco carries a maximum fine of more than $1.5 million and up to seven years imprisonment.
Police are continuing to investigate the Corrimal incident. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
The changes will also grant health inspectors the authority to close premises found to be in breach of the rules.
Mr Park said the new laws were necessary.
"That's the type of legislation that we are bringing in, that we have to bring in, because we have to get on top of this issue," he said.
"It's an issue that has got ahead of legislators and even community members over the last five years in the same way vaping has."
Police have urged anyone with information or footage of the incident that might help their investigation to contact Crime Stoppers.