An electrical fault in an older-style cabinet freezer may have caused a fire which extensively damaged an implement shed on a rural property near Alexandra yesterday, destroying the contents which included a ute, an aluminium boat and ride-on mower.
Southern region fire investigator Barry Gibson said the investigation into the Kelliher Lane, Springvale fire was continuing but a potential cause had been identified.
The electrical unit of the cabinet freezer had burnt out and may have caused the fire.
''It's one of those things with older freezers. People have to be mindful of the fact that they should get them checked from time to time, so faults that occur can be picked up,'' he said.
Often on rural properties an older freezer might be used as a second freezer, and these should be checked regularly, Mr Gibson said.
Farm tools, saddles and riding gear were other items damaged in the fire, which was fuelled by several LPG cylinders. Ammunition stored in the shed was also ''popping off'' as firefighters fought the blaze, he said.
Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade station officer John Mawhinney said the 20m by 7m shed went up in flames about 3.30am. A crew of at least 15 firefighters were involved and it took an hour to get the fire under control.
Firefighters remained at the site until 6am, dampening down hot spots. ''The house on the property was only about 8-10m from the shed so one of the first things we did was make sure we got water between the house and the fire, '' he said.
The occupants of the house had been woken by the fire and alerted emergency services. The shed was a large post lean-to style and one end was enclosed, clad in corrugated iron, he said.
