General News
17 December, 2024
Fire bombers assist firefight of crop and 19 car blaze
Police and CFA fire investigators are currently investigating the cause of a fire at Lah at 2.30 on Sunday afternoon, which burnt a large area of wheat crop, over two holdings and 19 cars.
The fire, which appears to have started near a line-up of cars, spread into crops to the east and north, where three headers in the area were put at risk until moved, as the fire spread across the paddocks.
Two fire-bombing aircraft assisted local brigades and private units in bringing the blaze under control.
Leading Senior Constable Anna Lake from Warracknabeal Police said, they believed the fire was not deliberately lit, but possibly caused by a vehicle at the rear of the Goads Road -Lah home, about eight kilometres north of Warracknabeal.
“Depending on the result of the investigation, charges may be pending,” she said.
Firefighters needed to wear breathing apparatus in the battle to extinguish the numerous burning cars due to the toxic fumes.
Extensive efforts were put in by the firefighters as they attempted to open the bonnets and boots of the cars to extinguish each vehicle.
Eight district brigade appliances joined private units to chase and extinguish the blaze, as it raced across the paddocks towards timber stands. About 150 acres of wheat were burnt in the fire.
Firefighters took some hours to control and blackout the fire.