A man has been slapped with a string of charges after a fire tore through a historic grandstand at Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse.
The racecourse fire broke out about 6.20am on Tuesday, with 17 firetrucks and more than 70 firefighters attacking the blaze before it was brought under control in less than an hour.
Emergency services issued a smoke and fire warning for nearby residents.
Shortly after 3pm on Tuesday a Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed detectives had arrested a 51-year-old man.
The man has since been charged with four counts of arson, two of trespass and one each of burglary, criminal damage and theft.
The charges relate to fires allegedly set across Caulfield and Mordialloc on Tuesday, including grass fires in Mordialloc about 12.30pm and several small fires in Arnott Street Caulfield in addition to that in the grandstand of Caulfield Racecourse about 6.25am.
The 51-year-old, whose last known residence was in Wangaratta, was remanded in custody.
He is set to front Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
