A FIRE engulfed a shed at a property in Kalangadoo on Saturday after rubbish lit by the male occupant burnt out of control, causing around $10,000 damage to the building and assets inside.
Police and Country Fire Service (CFS) crews from Penola, Nangwarry, Tarpeena and Kalangadoo attended the property on Railway Terrace at around 2.30pm to find the shed in flames.
Wattle Range CFS group officer Fred Stent said around 16 firefighters attended and extinguished the fire.
“The fire got into the shed, causing a vehicle and pallets inside to burn,” Mr Stent said.
“It quickly engulfed the building because two gas cylinders ignited and fuel from the vehicle also intensified the blaze.”
Mr Stent said the man was at home with his family attempting to burn rubbish in his backyard.
“It was a little bit silly burning rubbish so close to the shed, but the man admitted it and has learnt a valuable lesson,” Mr Stent said.
“He did all the right things in terms of ringing emergency services and getting his family away from the fire so there were no injuries.”
CFS crews had no problems extinguishing the blaze, despite it developing quickly once it entered the shed.
“A firefighter drove past the building and the fire was only coming out of the roof a little bit, but once they arrived in trucks moments later it was fully ablaze,” Mr Stent said.
“The flames were going straight up, so no other buildings were at risk and firefighters did well to put it out quickly.”
Mr Stent said home owners need to be vigilant when they choose to burn anything near homes or buildings.
“People should always ring council to make sure they are allowed to burn-off under the new laws,” Mr Stent said.
“They need to make sure they have a four metre clearance from any buildings and recognise that even if the surrounding grass is green, it can still burn and cause problems.”
