Farmer pours hundreds of litres of milk on shed fire

Oamaru dairy farmer Hayden Williams didn't hesitate when he came across a burning shed. Photo / Shannon Gillies

A dairy farmer poured hundreds of litres of milk on a storage shed fire, slowing its spread towards a home in Hilderthorpe near State Highway 1, north of Oamaru, yesterday.

Oamaru Volunteer Fire Brigade Station Officer Malcolm McIntosh said farmer Hayden Williams' quick thinking helped save the family home.

Williams was heading off in his truck and milk tanker unit to feed his 450 calves when he saw smoke coming from the property.

''I tried ringing and no-one answered so I went and investigated.

''I decided to take matters into my own hands after I called 111.''

He found the fire contained to a storage shed, about 4m from the property owner's home.

''I had a 1000 litres of milk in my tank.''

He said he was not afraid for his safety when he approached the fire and started hosing the flames down with the milk. ''The owner turned up behind me and I asked if there was going to be anything that blew up in our faces.''

The fire started about 10am and the Oamaru and Glenavy volunteer fire brigades arrived at the scene shortly after, he said.

''I thought my milk was getting a bit low and I knew I wasn't going to have enough to put it out, then behind me is the fire brigade.''

The property owner, who declined to be named, was happy with the service he got from the brigades and thankful Williams was there to help.

McIntosh said the house owners were ''lucky'' their property was not more seriously damaged considering the storage shed was so close to their home.

''[The fire] has come up and scorched the side of the house. If the wife wasn't here, or the neighbour, it would have been the house as well.''

The cause of the fire is unknown.