In the second major fire to hit the Adelaide sign industry in less than a year, Rodney Robertson Associates' warehouse in suburban Edwardstown has been destroyed overnight on Thursday, with damage estimated at $5 million.
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| Fire destroys Rodney Robertson in Edwardstown, SA (photo: ABC News) |
Sixty firefighters attended the blaze which broke out around 2am and gutted the building.
Adelaide’s Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) issued a warning about plastic toxins in smoke released from the fire and residents were advised to stay indoors and close doors and windows until the smoke had passed.
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| Before the fire - Rodney Robertson's building |
"It was a deeply-seated fire, a very high fuel load and there was obviously a lot of materials related to printing presses and display facilities, so it was very well fed," MFS commander Declan Dwyer told ABC News.
"But the other side of it that we were considering, of course, was the building on fire was surrounded by other buildings and it’s only in the vicinity of a couple of metres in some cases. Our primary purpose was to save the other buildings which were under very serious threat."
Police and MFS fire investigators attended the scene and SA Police said later that while the cause has not been determined, the fire is not believed to be suspicious.
Rodney Robertson & Associates, founded in 1948, specialises in exhibitions and promotional roadshows, signage, POS & display, and large format printing. High-profile clients include Australia Post, Adelaide Airport, Channel 9, SA Water, Schweppes, Coopers and Mercedes-Benz.
Managing director Malcolm Miller, who’s been with the business for 40 years, has not yet made a comment.
It’s the second major fire to hit the Adelaide sign industry in less than a year. On Boxing Day 2021, fire destroyed wide format printer Big Image of Hindmarsh, Adelaide, causing an estimated $2 million in damages. Owner Carlo Capogreco is now back in business after receiving overwhelming support from people in the industry.
ASGA President Julie Rochester, whose business Sign Concepts is also in Adelaide reminds all sign printers to prepare for the break: "The storage of solvents and disposal of old paint, solvent soaked rags, old paint filters are the most likely causes of fires in our industry. A reminder to people not to leave these items heaped up in the bins over the break. I don't think people consider spontaneous combustion when they are racing to finish everything and get out the door. Everyone needs to be vigilant."
