Fire crews combat Beacon Farms blaze

11 May 2021

Firefighters tackled a large blaze overnight at Beacon Farms, off Frank Sound Road in North Side.

The fire at the farm’s composting heap destroyed a grinder used to shred and break down material, according to owner Granger Haugh. The machine had the capability to grind up to 6,000 pounds of compost material.

“Our composting has been set back at least six months,” Haugh told the Compass Tuesday.

Beacon Farms is a non-profit organisation which employs mostly staff who are recovering drug and alcohol addicts.

This photo, taken in February this year, shows stacks of cardboard and wooden pallets, delivered by local supermarkets, destined to be shredded and turned into compost fertiliser at Beacon Farms. The grinder and compositing materials were destroyed in a fire overnight at the farm. – Photo: Taneos Ramsay

As well as growing fruit, vegetables and tobacco, the facility also houses a composting facility where garden and landscaping green waste, cardboard, wooden pallets and other organic waste is turned into fertiliser for the farms various crops.

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Fire crews remained at the site this afternoon to watch for any signs of re-ignition.