“Extensive” damage to Glen Waverley RSL after kitchen fire leaves pokies and members’ rooms gutted

The Glen Waverley veteran community is reeling after a blaze significantly damaged the local RSL sub-branch on Sunday morning.

What happened? Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) responded to the incident on Coleman Parade in Glen Waverley around 7:00am, finding the roof space of the premises ablaze due to a fire allegedly started in the kitchen.

• Joined by Country Fire Authority (CFA) crews, FRV members donned breathing apparatus and fought the fire from the outside due to concerns about the structural integrity of the property and to ensure firefighter safety.

• Sixty firefighters worked for around two hours to control the fire, with the incident declared under control at 9:14am.

What’s the damage? Nobody was inside the building at the time of the blaze.

• However, FRV crews worked closely with RSL members to save encased memorabilia, with the majority of memorabilia remaining intact and undamaged.

What’s next? In a public statement, Waverley RSL sub-branch president Neil Slaughter said the fire was “devastating” for the group and all local veterans, as members wait for a full inspection to determine the extent of the damage and the status of the building.

• 🗣️ “The one positive we can take is that the building was unoccupied and that nobody was injured,” said Slaughter. “Our focus for now is ensuring that our veteran community can continue to access support, particularly at a time like this.”

Image Credit: Sarah Ryan