Homestead lost in fire

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32462, 24 November 1970, Page 1

Homestead lost in fire

The Glen Hope homestead, 22 miles from Hanmer Springs, was completely destroyed by fire late yesterday morning. The four-bedroom wooden building was engulfed in flames before help could arrive from across the Waiau River.

The only person on the property, Mr C Heslop, the manager, was mustering a mile from the house when he heard an explosion and saw the washhouse burst into flames. He ran back and attacked the blaze with a garden hose, but could not prevent the flames from reaching the main house. Mr Heslop was able to save only a few belongings, including a television set, before the roof caved In. His wife and young child were not home at the time. The fire appeared to have been caused by an explosion in a kerosene refrigerator. The Hanmer Springs Volunteer Fire Brigade received the call at 11.45 a.m., and the Chief Fire Officer (Mr D. A. Read), with six men, left for the scene with a trailer pump. The Hanmer Forest Service also sent a pump, with six men, on a utility vehicle. At the Hope River, the gear was transferred to a tractor and taken across. The fire was fought from a 2000-gallon tank near the house, Mr Read said, but there was no chance of saving the house. Mr Heslop’s father-in-law.

Mr D. G. H. Todd, of Culverden, was fording the river three miles away when he saw the blaze. He arrived just after Mr W. Gray, the manager of the neighbouring Glynn Wye Station, who brought three men. The property, which was bought in June by Mr C. B. Satterthwaite, of Culverden, was originally part of the Glynn Wye Station. The original homestead was destroyed by fire some years ago, and the house burnt yesterday had been the men’s quarters. It had been extensively remodelled over the years since its construction, thought to be v about the turn of the century.