Trapped sheep die in blaze

ENGULFED: The blaze destroyed the wool shed near Eketahuna before firefighters arrived. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A fire in an Eketahuna wool shed has killed the dozen sheep trapped inside.

The Eketahuna Volunteer Fire Brigade were called to the fire on a remote sheep farm on Putara Rd, about 12km west of Eketahuna, about 5.30am on Tuesday.

Chief fire officer Max Mayer said the fire was "already on the ground" and had engulfed the building before the crew arrived.

"It was still smouldering, there were still flames but basically it was too late to do anything."

It was believed the sheep had been left in the shed overnight, ready for shearing in the morning.

Flammable lanolin oil from the sheep's wool would have built up in the timber over the years, Mr Mayer said. "It would have burnt quickly. Having that lanolin is a little bit like having an accelerant."

The cause of the fire was unknown but was not being treated as suspicious.