FOR the second time in less than a week on separate properties, and no more than a few kilometres apart, a shearing shed between Penshurst and Caramut has burnt down.

At about 4pm on Friday, September 29, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) was called to a structure fire on Burchetts Lane, Caramut.

District 5 Commander, Robert Howe, said CFA brigades attended to extinguish the fire that had engulfed the woolshed by the time they arrived.

“Three local CFA brigades attended,” he said.

“Penshurst, Burnbrae and Caramut with around ten CFA members.

“The building had collapsed by the time the fire brigade had arrived, but members worked to contain the fire to the structure of origin.

“It probably took them a couple of hours - they worked to cool some of the hot parts and made sure it wasn’t going to spread anywhere else.”

Commander Howe said a couple of CFA investigators have since attended the scene to investigate the cause but there was no reason to assume either this fire or the earlier one the previous weekend was from anything suspicious.

“The investigation remains ongoing,” he said.

“It’s just a coincidence that there were two woolshed fires in a short space of time.

“There are very logical reasons for both fires.”

He said the latest fire was an operating shearing shed and all shearing equipment had been destroyed.

“Neighbours have already offered to provide assistance where they can,” Commander Howe said.

He said local farmers in the community were generous to have either offered their woolshed nearby or provide portable yards for upcoming sheep work that needed to be done.

“Farmers are practical people,” Commander Howe said.

“(The shed burning down) makes life a little more difficult - it’s just another challenge a farmer has to deal with.”

Just over a week ago, on the evening of Saturday, September 23, a family returned home from a wedding to their farm property between Penshurst and Caramut and discovered their shearing shed ablaze after their youngest daughter went to check on their dogs.

Two Penshurst CFA units and one from Burnbrae including around ten CFA members were called at about 11pm to attend the fire, however the shed was razed to the ground.

Meanwhile on Sunday evening, three appliances from local brigades were called to a grass fire at about 8.30pm near ‘Breakneck Corner’, Hamilton Highway, between Tarrington and Hamilton.

Commander Howe said brigades from Hamilton, Strathkellar and Tarrington attended to quickly contain the fire from spreading. 

“We’re unsure of the cause at this point but CFA members spent a little bit of time blacking it out,” he said.