Shed fire gutting

A large shed in Brightwater went up in flames early this morning, destroying irreplaceable heirlooms, tools, a vehicle and furniture.

Richmond Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Ralph Lonsdale said the shed next to a house in Ellis St was fully ablaze when crews and fire engines from Richmond and Wakefield arrived about 3.30am today to help the volunteer crew from Brightwater.

Mr Lonsdale described the shed as a "handyman's heaven", full of an assortment of a lifetime's collection of tools and "old time" machinery that could not be replaced.

Fire Safety investigators would look at the cause of the blaze, but at this stage it was not thought to be suspicious.

It was the second shed fire in the district this week.

Mr Lonsdale said the owners of the Brightwater property were "very distraught" at the loss of the equipment. Firefighters managed to salvage a diesel ute parked in a lean-to next to the shed, but a more valuable vehicle in the shed was lost.

He said it had been a long night for the Richmond crew.

- © Fairfax NZ News