ONE of Bendigo’s oldest and most recognisable pubs almost went up in flames on Friday night after fire broke out in the chimney of the Rifle Brigade Hotel.
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The entire two stories of the internal chimney of the circa-1887 building on View Street caught fire about 10.30pm, causing the evacuation of 120 patrons.
Five fire trucks from the Bendigo and Golden Square brigades attended and spent 90 minutes carefully extinguishing the fire.
Senior station officer Darren Eenjes said residue had built up in the flue of the chimney, causing the interior of the chimney to burn from the ground to the roof.
He said firefighters needed to prevent the fire from moving into the building’s roof.
“People saw the smoke coming out of the roof and the staff were very quick to contact the fire brigade,” Mr Eenjes said.
“It’s quite a rare thing to have happen, but it can happen in older-style buildings.”
Owners of the hotel have the chimney cleaned before every winter.
Smoke entered the second floor of the Rifle Brigade Hotel through cracks in the rendering, causing smoke to drift throughout the upper floor.
Brigade members used thermal imaging to map the fire before using the ladder appliance to control it from the roof.
Most of the 120 hotel patrons – including a group celebrating a 21st birthday – moved on for the night as fire crews worked on the site.
Rifle Brigade manager Leanne Scholtz said everybody was out of the building within three minutes.
“It was the first time we’ve ever had to use the evacuation plan,” she said.
“The firefighters came and they were great, they prepped the fire and identified where it was. Had it have been more serious, they would have moved a lot quicker but it was all contained within the chimney.”
The City of Greater Bendigo visited the hotel on Saturday to give it the all clear.
Mr Eenjes said there could have been a number of factors that led to the fire.
“It’s just one of those things where you can have it cleaned every year, but it could still happen,” he said.
“The wood could have been a little green, it could have been a number of things.
“It serves as a reminder to have your chimney cleaned every winter.
“The management and staff of the Rifle Brigade should be applauded for the professional approach they took, making sure the welfare of their patrons was looked after.”
The circa-1887 building, designed by renowned architect William Vahland, was renovated in 1986.
Similar fires have occurred in The Woodhouse building on Williamson Street and at the building housing the La Porchetta restaurant.