Fire Devastates Maru - January 2009

2nd January 2009

Night of the fire

On the 2nd of January 2009 at 2 in the morning, an electrical fire started in the fuse box with flames quickly engulfing the entire building. The main building was fully ablaze when the local CFA attended and the entire bistro, shop and retail area and all their contents were lost. There was one koala housed in an enclosure adjacent to the bistro that was rescued by Ian Heffer during the fire. The koala suffered skin loss from her nose, her fur was singed on her ears and face but she made a full recovery over the next few weeks. Other animals were housed in the Nursery but were removed before the fire directly threatened that area. Fortunately the fire did not reach the Animal Park area and no other animals were harmed.

Mrs Ruth Heffers was woken from her sleep by her son Ian and the CFA, who led her to safety as the business beside it was overwhelmed by ten meter flames. Thanks to the efforts of the CFA, the private residence was saved from damage by the fire. Mr Ian Heffer suffered a broken nose after falling whilst assisting with the fire managementt. Both Ruth and Ian were assessed and treated at Maru with Ian receiving further treatment at Wonthaggi hospital.

Despite the devastating effects of the fire, the family and many volunteers and workers pooled together to clear the burnt site and renovate an existing rear building. Maru re-opened for business only two days after the fire on the 4th of January and has been operating daily since. Amazingly, though a little singed, the statues of a kangaroo and emu that marked the entrance to the original building (and can be seen in the adjacent photo) survived the fire and now grace the entry into the temporary entrance building.

As the Animal Park and Mini-golf were unaffected by the fire, we are still able to offer a full range of products to visitors, including a licensed café selling hot and cold food and drinks. Draft designs are already in place and plans are well on the way for a brand new Maru building which we hope to open by November 2009.

Maru main building before the fire

Devastation left after the fire