CONCERNS of asbestos mean a fire that destroyed a Morven house yesterday cannot be fully investigated.
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The timber-cement board home in Henty Street was razed to the ground in the blaze, the tin roof collapsed around it.
Few elements remained recognisable in the rubble — a claw-footed bathtub, a tattered armchair, the chimney jutting out from the combustion stove below — with everything else completely destroyed.
The homeowner, a middle-aged man, was not at home at the time.
It is understood he is now staying with friends.
NSW Rural Fire Service district coordinator Charles Anderson said emergency services were called about 9.55am.
Two crews from the RFS and one from Fire and Rescue NSW attended, extinguishing the fire after an hour and a half.
Firefighters needed breathing apparatus due to concern of asbestos in the walls, while neighbours were told to stay away.
Mr Anderson said the risk of asbestos had limited their ability to investigate.
“The house itself kept it fairly well-contained, but there was quite a lot of smoke going because of the wind,” he said.
However, it did not appear to be suspicious, he said.
The RFS will now turn the matter over to NSW Police who will decide if further investigations are necessary.