UPDATE 4pm: ARSON Squad chemists have been called to investigate after an historical former church in the state’s north was consumed by fire.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The specialist Melbourne-based Victoria Police members will travel to Corop to help determine the cause of the blaze, which is as yet unknown.
Corop – The cry of the Brolga Facebook page moderator Edie May said the former church had been one of the last historical buildings in the town.
“It will look very empty in that space,” she said.
“It will be a tooth missing,” she said.
The timber structure was believed to have been built about 150 years ago, following the arrival of William Taylor from Northern Ireland.
“We was instrumental in having the Presbyterian church built,” Ms May said.
“Previously various churches shared a building previously used as the creamery, then moved to the town hall.”
Ms May was unsure when the building stopped being used a church and became a private residence.
“The church was being used when I was a child in the 1960s,” she said.
All but one of the town’s historical buildings have become private dwellings, according to Ms May.
“The store is still running – it’s the local post office – but it certainly had a revmp,” she said.
The former pub, school and Methodist church have all been converted into homes.
Ms May described the fate of the former Presbyterian church as a tragedy.
“A great deal of effort was put into dousing it, but there was fire very deep into the beams at the top which came back up overnight,” she said.
CFA District 20 operations officer John Cutting said the building burnt to the ground about 5.30am today.
He said seven trucks from five brigades responded to the initial call, just after 5.15pm yesterday.
Water supply posed a challenge, with the firefight drawing up more water than the town’s mains could supply.
“That does happen in small towns,” Mr Cutting said.
Firefighters put the fire out as best they could last night after a two-hour battle to control the blaze.
But Mr Cutting said it re-ignited overnight.
He estimated it had been about 30 years since the building was last used as a church.
Shortly before the former church re-ignited, District 20 firefighters were called to a 2100 bale haystack fire at Mincha West.
Mr Cutting said firefighters in District 18 and District 20 had responded to about 20 haystack fires in the past two-and-a-half weeks, following a large amount of rain.
Spontaneous combustion was believed to have been the cause of this morning’s fire, Mr Cutting said.
![Three hay stacks - consisting of 2100 bales of hay - caught alight at Mincha West. Picture: CONTRIBUTED Three hay stacks - consisting of 2100 bales of hay - caught alight at Mincha West. Picture: CONTRIBUTED](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/CCCaSEL78QLqvgEaPeVcbz/63c2d2da-3585-4fd4-89ef-e69d408c61db.jpg/r0_0_4032_3024_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
EARLIER: DETECTIVES are investigating after an historic former church in the state’s north was consumed by fire.
Emergency services were called to Lake Cooper Road in Corop shortly after 5.15pm yesterday after smoke was sighted issuing from the building.
Detective Senior Constable Matthew Goss, of Echuca Crime Investigation Unit, said the weatherboard structure had been ‘totally destroyed’ by fire.
“The cause is undetermined,” he said.
Investigators are expected to attend the scene today.
Emergency services remain in the area.
Detective Senior Constable Goss said the building served as a holiday house.
No-one was home at the time of the blaze.
“The occupants were at a neighbour’s place,” the detective said.
The Country Fire Authority issued an advice message this morning stating there was a building on fire at Lake Cooper Road.
“There is no threat to the community, but you should continue to stay informed and monitor conditions,” the message said.
The authority expected there would be smoke in the vicinity for the next six hours, and asked that people keep the roads clear so emergency services could respond.
Firefighters are also responding to a 2100 bale haystack fire in Mincha West.
Emergency services were called to the Mincha West- Cohuna Road address about 5am today.
“Haystack fires are not likely to spread into grassland, but will generate a lot of smoke,” the CFA advised.
“There is no immediate threat to the community and no action is required.”
Police have asked that anyone with information about the fire in Corop call the Echuca Police Station on 5483 1500 or make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.