Farm Fire Causes Damage Of $3500

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31975, 30 April 1969, Page 1

Farm Fire Causes Damage Of $3500

Fire destroyed a tractor and car and gutted an implement shed on the farm of Mr R. H. McKenzie, Shands Road, Broadfields, early yesterday morning.

The Lincoln Volunteer Fire Brigade was called at 12.30 a.m„ and full crews on two machines confined the fire to the 30ft by 15ft corrugated iron shed lined in wood. The 1966 Ferguson 175 tractor and 1965 Fiat 500 car were in the shed, which also contained a large number of farm tools, including mowers and knapsack sprayers.

The cause of the fire is not known, but arson is not suspected. A noise woke a member of Mr McKenzie’s family who found the shed well alight. “It was burning so fiercely that nobody could get near it to save any of the contents," the Chief Fire Officer of the Lincoln Brigade (Mr G. M. Fitzgibbon) said yester day. One machine was used to pump water for firefighting from an open reservoir only 50 yards from the shed. The 800 gallons carried to one of the fire engines was used while the pumping from the reservoir was being organised. Mr McKenzie estimated damage at $3500. He is insured but the loss of many of the farm tools will not be covered.

“I appreciate the speed with which the fire brigade got here after the call,” he said. “Unfortunately, the shed was well alight before we knew about the fire.” The firemen travelled about four miles and a half.