Fierce blaze guts rifle clubhouse
A FIRE has gutted the clubhouse of a rifle range near Millmerran.
It is believed a battery which operated an electric fence sparked the blaze at the Millmerran and District clubhouse of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia at Captains Mountain on Tuesday night.
Four fire crews battled the fierce blaze which destroyed the shed which measured about 18 metres by six metres.
The fire began at 6.50pm.
Paramedics took a rural firefighter to hospital at 9pm aFifter he suffered smoke inhalation.
Firefighters ran out of water during their efforts to extinguish the blaze but were able to use water from a tank on the property.
Emergency services left the shooting range, on Heckendorf Rd, at 11.20pm.
Club member John Jones said the clubhouse contained a gas fridge, shooting targets, a small amount of ammunition, cutlery, crockery, trophies, furniture and other contents which were all destroyed.
"It was a huge blaze," he said.
"We have other buildings (at the range) which weren't damaged but all the keys for those buildings were in the (clubhouse) shed."
Mr Jones said they still hoped to hold their Christmas party at the range on Saturday.
The clubhouse is used every Saturday and was insured.
