DAMAGE: Firefighters work to bring Sunday’s blaze under control.
AN electrical fault in a computer room is suspected of sparking a fire that caused thousands of dollars damage to the administration building of one of the Hunter’s biggest horse studs.
No-one was injured in the blaze that began at Coolmore , off Denman Road, Jerrys Plains, at 2pm on Sunday.
Fire service investigations are continuing in an attempt to confirm the cause.
“Fortunately no-one was hurt in the fire, but the office is badly damaged and we have set up temporary offices elsewhere at the farm for the moment so that stud operations will not be affected,” Coolmore manager Tom Magnier said.
The 3300-hectare property has about 1000 horses, including 600 mares and 300 foals.
Eight Rural Fire Service tankers, with about 30 personnel, responded to the fire and their quick salvage actions saved an extensive amount of property in the building.
Fire service spokesman, Keith Lobb said a lot of horse record documents were saved before part of the roof collapsed.
About 45 Rural Fire Service firefighters, supported by National Parks and Wildlife Service and Forests NSW officers were also involved in fighting six bushfires in the Singleton area over the weekend.
The fires included 55 hectares off Wollombi Road, Broke, and areas known as Box Gap, Kings Cross, Doyles Creek, Pickle and Northlink.