Grass blaze call spreads to house

FIRE caused major structural damage to house on Glasscocks Road, Berwick on Tuesday evening.
CFA brigades from Berwick and Narre Warren were alerted at 8.45pm after initial calls to the 000 emergency hotline reported a grass fire by Clyde Road, and subsequent calls reported a house fire.
Five tankers, two pumpers, and about 30 firefighters were on the scene to combat the fire, which was venting from the roof of the unoccupied house.
Captain Alan Boyd said firefighters’ initial attacks were hampered by a lack of mains water in the area and additional tankers were called for from Beaconsfield, Narre Warren North and Hallam to bring water to the scene.
“It took about 20 minutes for crews to contain the fire,” he said, “and about three hours to extinguish all the hot spots.”
Capt Boyd said it was believed the fire started at the rear of the house.
A sunroom and kitchen were burnt out, but crews managed to save two thirds of the house.
Capt Boyd said witnesses heard an explosion when the fire started and when the News went to press investigators were sifting through the remains to try and determine the cause of the fire.