Fire guts Melbourne pub part-owned by AFL player Dane Swan

More than 70 firefighters are battling the blaze at the three-storey Albion Hotel, which is also part-owned by former-Melbourne Storm players.

Police believe Monday’s fire at the Albion hotel in Melbourne is suspicious and that two men were in the building before it went up in flames.

Police said a site worker at the newly renovated hotel in South Melbourne disturbed two men and was assaulted before the fire started.

On Monday afternoon firefighters were still battling the ferocious blaze that began just before 7am and an arson chemist was standing by to assess the scene as a large plume of smoke billowed across South Melbourne.

More than 70 firefighters were called to the huge fire at the pub, which is part-owned by Collingwood and former Melbourne Storm players.

Collingwood player Dane Swan and former Melbourne Storm players Robbie Kearns and Danny Williams are part owners of the pub, which was due to reopen on 16 October. Former Western Bulldogs player Luke Darcy’s brother Matt is the majority owner.

Luke Darcy told Triple M radio his brother was “distressed”.

“The fire has extended to all three levels and surrounding buildings are being evacuated,” the Metropolitan Fire Board said on Monday.

“There are also concerns about the structural integrity of the building with cracks appearing in some walls.”

Police have declined to comment on witness reports of an altercation between a site manager and unknown men before the fire started. Firefighters said the cause of the fire was unknown.

Most of the damage has been contained to the pub but a building next door was also damaged.

Source :  The Guardian       AAP   5th October 2015