By Brendan Rees
A 1967 convertible Mustang was among 10 collectable cars destroyed when a fire swept through a shed in Lyndhurst last Wednesday, 4 April.
The fire was reported just before 6am with nearly 30 firefighters from Cranbourne, Hallam, Hampton Park, and Narre Warren tackling the blaze on Hastings-Dandenong Road.
Hallam CFA Senior Station Officer Shaun McRoberts said the shed was engulfed in flames when crews arrived.
“There was in excess of 20 cylinders exploding, going off when we got there,” he said.
“It was welding cylinders, barbeque cylinders, LPGs from cars.”
The fire was contained by 9am but the shed was completely gutted. Antique cars including a EH Holden, ZD Fairlane and a Volkswagen Beetle were also destroyed in the fire, he said.
Mr McRoberts said the fire was under investigation but not deemed suspicious. “The owner thinks he might of left some welding equipment on.”
He said the firefight was initially challenging.
“The only hydrant was on Dandenong-Hastings (Road), so we had some big troubles of actually having water,” he said.
“I had to use the four trucks to set up a water relay.”
He said no one was injured in the incident, adding the owner, who is a mechanic, was awoken by the loss of electricity in his home which is detached from the shed.
“It’ll be a massive $20,000 to $30,000 clean-up bill.”
Mr McRoberts said the shed was not insured on the rental property. “The message is get insurance.”
