Showing posts with label destroyed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label destroyed. Show all posts

Friday, 22 December 2017

Fire Destroys old Squash Courts in Wallsend

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Fire has destroyed the old Tennis and Squash Centre in Wallsend overnight.

17 calls to Triple 000 prompted emergency services call out to Council Street at 8:55pm.

They arrived to find fire had engulfed the building and partially collapsed one side; crews had to call for back-up and in the end six trucks were on scene.

50 people had to be evacuated from the Coles Supermarket on Cowper Street while crews extinguished the blaze. Crews also protected a property on one side of the blaze which came close to catching alight.

The fire was finally extinguished at 2:20am this morning, and one truck stayed on the scene ensuring the blaze doesn't flare up again.

The structure was completely destroyed.

Investigations are continuing into how the blaze started.

Image Smd Industries Facebook.

Image Smd Industries Facebook.

Monday, 4 December 2017

Investigations Continue into Death of 70yo Man in Morisset Granny Flat

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Although not yet formally identified, it's believed the man who was tragically killed in a shed fire at Morisset overnight was the 70-year-old male occupant. 

Fire crews responded to several calls to Triple Zero just after 2 o'clock this morning following reports a granny flat in the rear of a property on Stockton Street had gone up in flames. 

Crews quickly extinguished the blaze containing it before it spread to neighbouring properties and buildings, fighting flames which were reportedly15 metres high.

Once the fire was extinguished, they made the grim discovery and a crime scene was established.

"When the fire was extinguished and the scene examined the body of a male person was located inside that granny flat. Detectives were called to the scene and subsequently started an investigation and will prepare a report for the coroner," said Crime Manager Detective Inspector Craig Davis.

"We believe at this stage the deceased may be the 70-year-old occupant but that, of course, is not confirmed and further identification process will be conducted forensically," said Detective Inspector Davis.

The granny flat was completely destroyed.

Michael who lives next door told Nine News he was in complete shock this morning.

"It was a bit of a shock when I spoke to the detectives here and he showed me a photo of his license and just bang, it hit me like a tonne of bricks,"

"He was alright, he was a very honest bloke, very outgoing and this is a real big shock for me."
Detective Inspector Davis believes it was the quick work of firefighters on the scene that stopped the blaze from spreading.

"Very lucky. The fire brigade were on the scene fairly quickly and the fire brigade was called fairly quickly. It's a residential area so they're lucky they got to it early."

Anyone who has any information, or saw anything this morning, are urged to contact Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000


Friday, 15 September 2017

Residents Urged to Stay Away from Richmond Vale Railway Museum

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Cessnock City Council is urging residents to stay away from Richmond Vale Railway Museum and surrounding bushland.

It comes after fire ripped through the area on Wednesday - the fire burnt through 920 hectares of land, tragically destroying some of the museum's stock.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) has declared the site a 'Fire Ground' and an exclusion zone has been enforced. No one, including the public, volunteers and media, can enter the site without consent from the RFS.

"This is a huge loss for our community, in particular for the dedicated volunteers who have worked tirelessly for many years to preserve our railway and mining heritage," said a council spokesperson.

The Railway museum released a statement on their Facebook page yesterday echoing the council's warning to residents.

"Museum members and members of the public are advised that security has been posted at the museum's access road to control admission, and that police will be patrolling the area. Please stay away."



The losses the museum suffered during the blaze include:
- 3 stainless steel passenger cars
- 10 of 16 restored non-air coal hoppers and almost all non-restored wagons
- All of the unrestored general freight vehicles
- Approximately 2.5 kilometres of track
- Damage to number 1 bridge on the link line to Pelaw Main

"These losses mean that the museum's rail operations will be suspended pending gradual track rehabilitation. An announcement about other aspects of the museum's activities will be made as soon as access issues are resolved."

Old burnt-out coal wagon Image AAP/Darren Pateman

Tuesday, 11 July 2017

Fire at Teralba Caravan Park

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An investigation is underway into what could have caused a caravan at Teralba Caravan park to go up in flames earlier today.

NSW Fire and Rescue crews from Teralba, Toronto and Cardiff were called to the caravan park at around 8am this morning where they found a caravan engulfed by flames.

It took crews 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze.

No one was injured but the caravan was totally destroyed and an adjacent caravan was also damaged.