A Benalla home was destroyed by a fire that broke out on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 18.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
As firefighters approached a house fire in Mackellar St, Benalla on Tuesday, August 18, a large group of community members had gathered outside.
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While Benalla CFA captain Charlie Sexton praised local people who had started fighting the fire with their own garden hoses, he said the gathered crowd affected firefighters’ ability to tackle the blaze.
“The scene was extremely crowded by the community, and what that did do was prevented us access to fire hydrants,” he said.
“We actually had to travel nearly 100 metres, which is three lengths of large hose.
“So the guys are carrying six lengths of extremely large hose to try and get to a hydrant to ensure that we had enough water.”
Ms Sexton said that in this situation, the CFA was luck to have a tanker full of water available.
“We nearly used all of that water protecting the neighbours’ homes before we could get water from the mains,” he said.
“But there were cars and people parked in front of, and obstructing our view of, fire hydrants in the street.
“This delayed us getting water to our trucks for firefighter and community safety.
“So, this is a reminder to the public to please don’t crowd the scene of a fire.
“Give us the chance we need to do the work we've got to do.”
The fire was reported just after 2.30pm on Tuesday, and Mr Sexton said the good news was that the CFA had been told that all people had evacuated the house before fire crews arrived.
“On the way to the call, we could see significant combustion from the colour of the smoke, indicating that it had been burning for a period of time,” he said.
Knowing that everyone was out of the house, Mr Sexton said the priority for the CFA was to protect assets.
Seven CFA vehicles responded to a house fire on Mackellar St, Benalla on Tuesday, August 18. Photo: Gordon Freeman.
“Things like protecting the homes next door that were being impacted and trying to suppress the fire to where it was,” he said.
“With these old weatherboard homes, there’s a significant amount of fuel.
“And the fire had moved into the roof space rather quickly, even before we arrived.
“Once a fire gets into the roof, it travels quite quickly throughout the home.
“And we’re estimating that the home is at least an 80 or 90 per cent loss.
“It will have to be rebuilt.”
Mr Sexton said the fire was not being treated as suspicious.
“We have a cause, but that’s currently being formally investigated by CFA fire investigators,” he said.
The property is currently circled by temporary fencing, as the building is unstable.
“The structure inside has collapsed,” Mr Sexton said.
“It's just the roof space, which is being held up by itself.
“That’s why the fencing’s there, to keep people out because there is a continued risk of structural collapse.”
Mr Sexton said he wanted to remind the community of the importance of having a fire plan.
“Have all your documents and important things available so that in the instance that a fire occurs you don’t lose everything,” he said.
“Have an emergency plan and emergency kit, and make sure you have working smoke detectors.
“If your smoke detector beeps, it needs a new battery.”
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