Fire at Rove production company

[Moogie]

Fire at Rove production company
October 6, 2004 - 7:13PM

A fire is raging at a building housing a production company owned by television personality Rove McManus in Melbourne's inner east.

Firefighters were called to the building, on the corner of Mollison and Nicholson Streets, Abbotsford, about 6pm (AEST).

A Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokesman said those in the building left when the fire broke out.

"We've had structural collapse within," he said.

"At this stage we're still checking out the adjacent building to make sure the fire hasn't got to them."

More than 50 firefighters were battling the blaze, the cause of which was unknown, he said.

- AAP

[unfrufru]

just heard on 10 news that rove's house burnt down. well they said tv superstar and had a picture of rove on his mobile watching his house go up.

nore details as they come to hand (that's why i posted it here, in case it was't rove

[Munchkin]

As tempting as it is to mock, that really sucks. That'll effect a few shows too, not just Rove[Live].

[Spawn of Satan]

I'm sure they'll find somewhere else to film

[Mythor]

Yeah, I can't see how it'd be okay to mock this.
Hope all the peoples are okay.

Poor Rove.

[Bear]

So was it the production company or his house that burnt down?? Or yeah, both?

Kinda sucks lots. I hope no-one was hurt.

[EVIL EVOR]

Blaze contained at Rove building
October 6, 2004 - 7:24PM


Fire crews have contained a blaze at a Melbourne building used by Rove McManus' production company.

Firefighters were called to the two-storey building, on the corner of Mollison and Nicholson Streets, Abbotsford, about 6pm (AEST).

Earlier reports indicated the building housed McManus' production company, Roving Enterprises.

However, a Ten Network spokeswoman said the building contained office space used to make the comedy show Skithouse, which is produced by Roving Enterprises.

"It's rented office space,'' she said. "It's three doors down from Roving Enterprises.''

A Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokesman said firefighters had the blaze under control in an hour.

More than 50 firefighters were still fighting the fire, the cause of which was unknown, he said.

- SMH

----------------------------

Is John Howard behind this?

[unfrufru]

i do love the fact that CHANNEL 10!!! who shows rove, stated in its news reports that it was his house that burnt down, and it was the other networks that got it right.

apologies for saying it was his house.

[Laurenandë]

The Courier Mail quotes Craig Campbell a few times. They said it's completely fucked up the ARIA broadcast for Roving, because that's where they kept all the props/costumes/scripts/stuff for the night.

[GentleZephyr]

Last night said that the fire destroyed all of the animated footage for the upcoming ARIA's. Confirmation, anyone?

[unfrufru]

from the age this morning

Rove stunned by office blaze

By Rachel Wells
October 7, 2004





Fire crews battle to put out the blaze at the Abbotsford offices yesterday evening.
Photo: Paul Harris



Popular Australian television presenter Rove McManus was last night counting the cost of a massive fire that destroyed a television production building used by the Gold Logie winner.

Just before 6pm, firefighters were called to the Abbotsford building, where the television program Skithouse is produced by Roving Enterprises.

Stunned employees of the company watched as 16 fire engines and more than 50 firefighters took more than an hour to contain the blaze at the two-storey building on the corner of Mollison and Nicholson streets.

Rove's manager, Kevin Whyte, said there were about eight people in the building when the fire broke out. "There were people in the building but they all got out safely," Mr Whyte said.

Mr Whyte said the building, rented by Roving Enterprises, was used for production, graphics editing and for wardrobe and props.

"It's also the building we produce the program Skithouse out of," Mr Whyte said.

The main offices of Roving Enterprises, which are three doors down, are believed to have been undamaged.

When asked how Mr McManus reacted to the news, Mr Whyte said: "He's shocked, like everybody else."
Mr Whyte said he did not know how much it would cost to fix the damage but said the building contained expensive editing equipment and computers, as well irreplaceable video tapes and digitally stored footage.

"That's all gone and it's absolutely devastating," he said. "There was some material being worked on for the ARIA awards which is next week so we are going to have to redo a lot of work.

"Some of the employees are pretty shaken up.

"There are creative people who have put a lot of work in, and to see that work destroyed is very upsetting."

Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokesman Trevor Woodward described the damage as extensive.

"The roof of the building has collapsed and the damage is listed as extensive," Mr Woodward said.

He said the fire was not believed to be suspicious.

McManus was crowned Australia's most popular television personality for the second year running at the TV Week Logie Awards earlier this year, shutting out the widely tipped Delta Goodrem.

McManus moved from his home town of Perth to Melbourne, to pursue a career in stand-up comedy in 1995. In 1998 he began making regular appearances on the ABC's Good News Week/Good News Weekend programs, gathering himself a strong television fan base.

In early 1998, McManus joined Channel Nine and began work on a late night show for them, in an attempt to bring "new and fresh talent" to the station.

Rove McManus comforts a staff member.
Photo:Morgan Simpson



On 22 September 1999, McManus' own show Rove premiered on Channel Nine at 11pm, co-starring Peter Helliar, Corinne Grant and Dave Callan.

Channel Nine did not renew his show for 2000, however, but Channel Ten picked it up.

In late 2000, Rove Live premiered and eventually earned the popular presenter his two Gold Logies

[Laurenandë]

News Ltd all have this one... story is different, I don't know why.

Fire destroys Rove's studio
By Damon Johnston, Holly Ife and Cameron Smith
October 7, 2004

GOLD Logie winner Rove McManus's production office was destroyed in a multi-million dollar blaze last night.


Devastation ... the first floor of the Mollison St building collapsed within seconds of fire-fighters' arrival.


Destroyed were television sets, a props department, costumes, computers and programs being finalised for the ARIA music awards, to be held in 10 days.

The music industry's night of nights may now be in disarray, with hundreds of hours of planning now in ashes.

"With only 10 days to go we are behind the eight ball . . . It's all gone," executive producer Craig Campbell said.

McManus, Australia's most popular television identity, was stunned as he looked at the gutted Abbotsford warehouse in Melbourne.

Within minutes of the blaze, fire had engulfed the building, which is used to produce Skithouse, Before the Game and Rove Live.

About 20 staff from McManus's company Roving Enterprises were in the building when fire broke out about 6pm.

Everyone escaped but three people tried to re-enter the building to salvage valuables. They were forced back by extreme heat and smoke.

Two were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene and Mr Campbell, 43, was taken to nearby St Vincent's Hospital for further treatment.

Before he left, Mr Campbell, who was gasping for air, said the fire had started in the roof.

"Smoke started coming out of the roof," he said. "Someone said, 'Can you smell fire?' and we evacuated."

The first floor of the Mollison St building collapsed within seconds of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade's arrival.

Two cars parked at the building's entrance were covered in bricks and rubble.

When asked if they lost everything, Mr Campbell said, "pretty much".

"But we will rebuild," he said.

McManus's manager, Kevin White, said his main priority was the safety of staff.

"All of us, including Rove, were worried that someone had been hurt," he said.

"Once we realised no one was hurt, shock has set in.

"We won't know the true magnitude of this until tomorrow."

Assistant chief fire officer Chris Watt said the cause of the blaze was unknown.

It took 50 firefighters about 45 minutes to contain the fire, he said.

"We're still checking out the adjacent building to make sure the fire hasn't got to them."

McManus would not comment on the devastating fire last night.

A meeting is expected to be held today about the immediate future of the ARIA presentation.

[unfrufru]

from the Herald Sun

Rove studio fire proves costly

07oct04

A FIRE at a building used by Rove McManus's production company is estimated to have caused more than one million dollars worth of damage.

The blaze, which has not been deemed suspicious, started at the two-storey building, on the corner of Mollison and Nicholson Sts, Abbotsford, just before 6pm.


The building, in which the comedy show Skithouse was made, also housed editing equipment and a costume department, Rove McManus manager Kevin Whyte said.

Three people working in the building suffered smoke inhalation in the blace, which fire crews brought under control in an hour, a Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokesman said.

He said one of the workers was taken to hospital.

Part of the front wall of the building collapsed onto the footpath during the fire, damaging parked cars, the spokesman said.

He said firefighters were pleased they were able to contain the fire to the upper floor of the building.

"The damage bill is expected to exceed one million dollars and additional fire crews have been called in to maintain a watching duty on the property throughout the night," the spokesman said. "Fire investigators will return in the morning but have already deemed the cause as not suspicious."

[unfrufru]

another pic

[GentleZephyr]

I wonder what will happen to the ARIA's. Will they be able to fix everything, do you think?