Farm machinery lost in shed fire on orchard

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A major fire extensively damaged an implement shed and an attached sleepout on an orchard in Pilmer Road at Makauri in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Fire and Emergency NZ responded with six appliances, including three water tankers from the city and rural fire brigades, at around 2.25am.

“The building, measuring 20 by 15 metres, was well involved in fire when we arrived,” a senior firefighter said.

The sleepout was unoccupied.

“Occupants of the property discovered the blaze and called 111, and they were able to move a tractor and sprayer unit out of the building.

“But another tractor and other machinery was lost in the blaze.”

The fire crews were able to stop the fire from spreading to the nearby residence.

They were there until around 6am yesterday morning, and crews went back a couple of times during the day to check on the situation.

“The building’s still standing but it’s been extensively damaged,” the senior firefighter said.

“How the fire got started has yet to be determined.”

A specialist fire investigator has been looking into the cause.

w