Update Saturday 8.30pm:
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Fire authorities believe squatters had been living in a cottage behind the former Saint John's orphanage that caught fire on Saturday afternoon.
NSW Fire and Rescue Inspector Dean Campbell said the outbreak was extinguished at about 5pm. Four of his crews and two from the RFS were called to the scene off Mundy Street, Goulburn at 3.45pm.
Inspector Campbell said although the cottage was unoccupied at the time, there was evidence that someone had been living there.
The owner, orphanage owner John Ferrara advised NSW Fire and Rescue that the power had been cut off to the house some time ago.
On arrival, firefighters noticed that power lines connected to the fascia were arcing. A neighbour also captured this in footage.
However Inspector Campbell said the cause did not appear to be an electrical fault as the fire was in the main part of the house. Crews had to pull up floorboards to fully extinguish the blaze. It was extinguished at about 5pm and crews left the scene at 7pm after mopping up.
No further investigations are underway. Nor will the fire be notified to the NSW Coroner as the value was less than the notifiable benchmark.
UPDATE Saturday 4.30pm:
NSW Fire and Rescue inspector Dean Campbell has confirmed the cottage was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
Essential Energy cut power to the house to allow crews to fight the fire.
Inspector Campbell said four NSW Fire and Rescue crews, along with two RFS units incorporating some 30 personnel, were at the scene.
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When they arrived, they found a smouldering structure with smoke billowing from inside the roof.
"There was no threat to other homes and firefighters concentrated on protecting those nearby houses," Mr Campbell said.
NSW Fire and Rescue and RFS have contained the outbreak.
The fire is almost extinguished.
A neighbour told The Post he noticed powerlines to the cottage arcing soon after the fire started, when crews were on scene. He believed it started in the roof although this has not been confirmed.
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No cause has been established at this stage.
The council in the past few years has ordered the owner of St John's to fence off the orphanage structure due to a series of fires and the danger to the public.
Inspector Campbell said although the cottage was empty, it was a timely reminder for people to check their smoke alarms and fire safety generally in the home.
Further information is available at Goulburn Fire Station.
EARLIER:
Fire crews are on the scene of a fire at a cottage at the rear of the former St John's Orphanage in Mundy Street.
Crews were called to the blaze at about 3.40pm to find the cottage well alight.
NSW Fire and Rescue and RFS have contained the outbreak.
Flames are still apparent in the roof of the home and smoke is pouring from the cottage.
Police and ambulance are on scene and an Essential Energy crew has arrived to disconnect power.
It's one of a long series of fires at the old orphanage.
No one appears to be injured.
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