What are the odds that there would be two major fires within the space of 13 days in our area.
On May 25, fire broke out in a building that’s been the lifeblood of the Menangle community for more than a century, the general store on the corner of Menangle Road and Station Street.
The store is more than just a place to grab coffee, food, flowers or groceries – it is the heart of the Menangle village.
But it’s no more, a piece of local history up in smoke, literally.
Local member Dr Mike Freelander got up to speak in parliament in Canberra, to tell the House about the tragic fire at Menangle, explaining the importance of the building to locals, and travellers.
While nobody was hurt in the fire (pictured above), the building was badly damaged, which means an uncertain future for the business and the current owners of The Corner Store at Menangle.
The fire also left 16 people without work.
To help them out in their hour of need a gofundme page has raised around $50,000 so far.
Funds raised will help the owners of the business and their staff get through a tough time in their lives.
We are urging readers of the South West Voice to help out as much as possible.
To make a donation visit the page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-corner-store-menangle-after-devastating-fire
As alluded to above, just 13 days after the devastation at Menangle, another fire broke out just after midnight at Belgenny Reserve near Camden (pictured above).
Fire & Rescue NSW crews that responded to the reports of a blaze, arrived to find the clubhouse of the Camden Falcons Football Club well alight, with a significant fire spreading throughout the top floor of the building.
Crews from Camden, Narellan, Oran Park, Campbelltown, Rosemeadow, Horningsea Park, Macquarie Fields, Macquarie Fields-Ingleburn, and Revesby joined forces to try to bring the blaze under control.
As the fire spread into the roof, sections of the building began to collapse, forcing firefighters outside of the building.
Crews were hampered by extremely poor water pressure from the closest hydrants, with firefighters having to set up a water relay from the Old Hume Highway and pump water from over half a kilometre away.
Firefighters worked for several hours with multiple breathing apparatus crews and an Aerial Pumper to bring the fire under control.
One firefighter was injured and treated on scene by paramedics in a stable condition.