Fire claims historic hop kiln

Fire has destroyed Hopgrove kiln at Lachlan.

A CENTURY-OLD hop kiln has been destroyed in a spectacular fire at Lachlan this afternoon. Smoke from the blaze could be seen from New Norfolk.

Fire brigades from throughout the Derwent Valley converged on the scene at Hopgrove, on Lachlan Rd, finding the large building completely engulfed in flames.

The efforts of the big team of firefighters were unable to save the building, which was completely destroyed, but they were able to prevent it from spreading to nearby houses and historic hop-picker's huts.

Fire crews extinguishing the blaze.

The old kiln was a local landmark, standing three storeys tall. The farm was producing hops in the 1870s and the drying kiln is believed to have been rebuilt in the 1920s.

Volunteers from the Lachlan Fire Brigade were on the scene soon after the fire was reported at 3.41pm. They were quickly reinforced by the New Norfolk and Magra brigades, with further support soon arriving from Bushy Park and Gretna.

The response included five heavy tankers, one medium tanker, three light tankers and two other fire service vehicles. Police and TasNetworks crews were also at the scene. No injuries were reported.

Several fire crews remain at the scene at the time of writing.