$10,000 damage in shed fire

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33426, 7 January 1974, Page 1

$10,000 damage in shed fire

(from Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, January 6. A wool and implement shed and its contents on the Motukaika property of Mr A. G. Scott, near Cave, was damaged on Friday evening to the extent of at least $lO,OOO.

The shed, 60ft by 50ft, and icapable of holding 550 sheep.

contained a deep freeze, refrigerator. a valuable set of harness for the Mackenzie Country and Western Carnival Committee, expensive saddles, shearing machines, loaders, 110 gallons of sheep drench, agricultural spray, five drums of oil and grease, and baling twine. All were destroyed in the blaze. An auto header was also destroyed, and a 21-tine hustler and mower outside the shed were charred. Tractor tyres were rolled clear and saved. The shed and contents were insured. The cause of the fire is not known, but Mr Scott said today that a 501 b container of rock gas had exploded Mr Scott’s 19-year-old son, iMr B. Scott, first attempted [about 7.15 p.m.’to douse the 'fire with a fire extinguisher Trorn the auto header, half of | which was ablaze, and then tried to pull the header iut ■of the shed with a tractor, I but was unsuccessful. ; The St Andrews Volunteer iFire Brigade sent two appliances in response to an emerigency call to the farm, a distance of 18 miles. “The shed was alight from end to end,” said the brigade’s deputy chief officer (Mr L. W. McCarthy). The brigade’s chief officer (Mr G. B. Baker) directed the fire-fighting with two subordinates and 10 volunteer firemen, and with assistance from the farm workers. The brigade’s 800-gallon ;and 200-gallon appliances ran a shuttle service from the Pareora River, a quarter of a mile away, but to no avail. A power pole caught fire during the blaze and power i was cut off. ; Precautions were taken tn ensure that an adjoining [hayshed was not damaged.