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3.30pm Wednesday
Contractors have started demolishing Matong’s pub, the Farmers Home Hotel, after a police forensics unit took pictures of the building, which was devastated by fire on Wednesday afternoon.
An Essential Energy cherry picker was called in to switch off power off overhead lines that run in front of the building.
An excavator started using its hydraulic arm and bucket to push and tear down the rear of the Matong Pub building at around 1pm on Wednesday.
Engineers had determined that there was too much debris inside the structure to allow entry and there was too much risk of impending storm conditions pushing over the walls and blocking the road.
The building was still on fire when demolition started, with thick smoke pouring from the open roof and flames appearing in the windows and exposed corridors.
Several residents came out to watch and take pictures of the demolition process, which was designed to slowly bring down the surviving walls.
EARLIER:
12.51pm Wednesday
The Rural Fire Service has started hosing down the front bar after the rood collapsed and the fire flared up again.
Police forensics are taking photos before excavators enter the site.
11.17am Wednesday
An Bobcat and excavator with a claw attachment has arrived, but windows have broken around the main bar and the fire has flared up again with airflow.
Denis Ashcroft a Matong resident said he woke up at 6am and saw the pub on fire.
“The flames were through the roof,” he said.
“I called 000, but they already had a report.”
9.46am Wednesday
A Hazmat unit is now on scene along with an Essential Energy cherry picker.
The Rural Fire Service has expressed concerns about the power line, especially once demolition begins, located in front of the pub.
9.06am Wednesday
Demolition is expected to begin within the hour.
Firefighters are still working to put out the blaze that engulfed Matong Pub this morning.
Rural Fire Service was were alerted to the blaze just after 5am this morning at the Farmers Home Hotel.
Two crews attended and were assisted by Fire and Rescue NSW said Greg Allan from the Rural Fire Service.
“Upon arriving they found the structure alight, it is two stories,” he said.
“Due to the fire activity and the extent of the damage it was unsafe to go into the structure.
"The fire has been contained within that building, however, pockets of that building are still burning.”
Mr Allen said it will still be some time before firefighters can enter the building and begin an investigation.
Police attended the scene.
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