Narrabeen fire: Crime scene yet to be investigated, police say

A fire ripped through a council-owned building in Jamieson Park on Saturday afternoon, and it left two businesses and a volunteer club with a huge loss of equipment.

One of the businesses, Jamieson Park Paddle, was just closing up for the day when the fire started, with the owner frantically calling Narrabeen Fire Station to report the blaze.

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The Northern Beaches Review understands council was recently made aware of a kiosk operating out of this business and is now working with the owner on compliance.

Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club was closed when the blaze broke out, with its volunteer members away at a regatta.

The club lost around $50,000 worth of boats and equipment in the blaze. Almost $15,000 has since been raised through a GoFundMe page for the club.

"We've got some members who were at the club for decades, so for them it's a lot of history that's gone," NLSC Commodore Aymeric Cabuil said.

Learn to Paddle Now, also located in the building, lost around $70,000 worth of custom-made kayaks and a number of surf skis. "It's a major blow," owner Mario Vesely said.

The business was not insured and GoFundMe page launched to help the business recover has so far received almost $5000 in donations.

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Learn to Paddle Now will continue to operate from Jamieson Park using kayaks from its Middle Harbour facility.

Fire and Rescue NSW Narrabeen Station Officer Scott Bennett was among the first firefighters on scene, and said the building was fully engulfed in fire, with flames three times the height of the structure.

"There was an extremely high fuel load because of all the sail boats," Station Officer Bennett said. "The conditions on arrival meant there was no way to fight the fire internally."

With no mains water available, firefighters were forced to draft water from Narrabeen Lake to fight the blaze.

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Firefighters put out containment booms to stop any pollutants from entering the lake. "We noticed there was a filmy run-off coming from inside the sailing club," he said.

Part of the building's roof and some walls have collapsed, and council engineers have been called in to shore up the damaged structure to allow police and fire investigators inside.

Northern Beaches Council will liaise with its insurers to determine if the building will be demolished and rebuilt or repaired.

Council CEO Ray Brownlee said he was saddened to hear of the blaze.

"We've been in touch with both tenants and will keep them updated on the situation," he said.

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Policer have called on anyone with information about the fire to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Jamieson Park Paddle did not respond to the Northern Beaches Review's request for comment.

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