DESPITE spending hours at the site, the initial results of the investigation into what started the Nowra Sailing Clubhouse fire are inconclusive.
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Fire and Rescue NSW Fire Investigation and Research Unit scoured the building’s charred remains with the assistance of an accelerant-detection dog.
The fenced-off scene on Thursday was morbid and silent. Rewind a bit over 12-hours and fire fighters faced a very different scenario.
On arrival, about 8.30pm, NSW Fire Brigade Nowra station officer Glenn Edwards and his crews faced a wall of fire and a number of challenges.
The building was fully alight. They were unsure what was inside the building, there was a possible risk there could be fuel or flammable fibreglass boats stored inside. The building was made from materials containing asbestos.
“Thankfully there didn’t appear to be much inside. It was a matter of getting in, knocking the fire down. Surround it and drown it,” Mr Edwards said.
“We had trucks from Shoalhaven, Nowra, Berry and some from RFS at the scene.
“It was about 12.30pm when we handed the scene over to council,” he said.
Sean and Nicholas Thorpe from Terara were among the first on the scene moments after the fire started about 8.30pm.
“We were driving across the Nowra Bridge and could see the building on the left up in flames,” Sean Thorpe said.
“It was already pretty well into it,” he said.
The pair stopped to check someone had called the fire brigade and to see if anyone needed help.
There was only one other car there. The occupants had phoned the fire brigade.
The brothers said the heat and smoke were very intense.
“Later we heard nobody had been inside,” Mr Thorpe said.
“Two fire trucks turned up and started spraying the fire. More trucks arrived.
“By about 9.15pm the fire was out, but the building was destroyed.
“It’s pretty sad to see it go,” Mr Thorpe said.