125 Lambs Die In Shed Fire

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32217, 9 February 1970, Page 1

125 Lambs Die In Shed Fire

(From Our Own Reporter!

TIMARU, February 8. One hundred and twenty-five Romney lambs belonging to Mr F. H. Guilford, of Tepuke, Fairlie, perished when a raging fire fanned by high north-west winds, razed a 60ft by 45ft woofshed on the property of Mr J. Murphy, Nixons Road, Ngapunawai, on Friday evening.

“There were doors on both sides of the shed, but the fire had such a hold because of the wind that the flames drove Mr Guilford out of the shed and prevented him frpm freeing the sheep,” Mr Murphy said.

Apart from Mr Guilford’s losses, which were considerable, both he and Mr Murphy lost some crutchings. The shearing machines and wool press, which were insured, were destroyed. Mr Murphy said that timber, joists and studs in the

shed had been renewed in the last 20 years. Crutchers had left the historic family woolshed shortly before the fire was discovered. “Mr Guilford returned when he saw smoke and flames erupting from the building," Mr Murphy said. The cause of the outbreak, which was attended by one unit from the Fairlie Volunteer Fire Brigade, is not known.

The brigade, under the Chief Fire Officer (Mr N. W. Miles) obtained water from Irishman Creek, about two chains from the shed, but by the time the engine arrived the structure was practically a smouldering ruin.