Suspicious Blaze Damages Rutherford Workshop

newy.com.au – A fire broke out early on 4 March 2025 at Empire Mechanical Solutions, a mechanical workshop in Rutherford, New South Wales. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) units from Maitland, East Maitland, and Rutherford, a total of 24 firefighters responded to the incident on Mustang Drive around 12:15 am. Firefighters forced entry and contained the blaze to the reception area within an hour, preventing its spread to adjacent businesses. ​

Inspector Glen Whitehead said the office had mainly been damaged, which was totally desroyed by fire. Fire & Rescue deploying a K9 and drone unit to investigate the fire. The drone will allow the team to determine if there are any burn patterns that stand out in an attempt to work out how the fire started.

The workshop, established just eight weeks prior, is owned by Jason Gualtieri, formerly known as Jason Hure. Gualtieri, who left the Comanchero bikie gang in 2018, has previously been targeted in incidents including a confirmed arson attack on his Thornton business in 2016, an attempted car bombing in 2022, and a drive-by shooting at his East Maitland residence in 2024. ​

Given the suspicious nature of the fire, FRNSW deployed an Ignitable Liquid Detection dog to assist in the investigation. These canines are trained to detect fire accelerants with remarkable accuracy, aiding in determining the fire’s origin and cause. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities examining potential links to previous incidents involving Gualtieri.​