Fire destroys macadamia silo at Pacific Farms near Byron Bay

Crews from across the region battled the fire for more than 15 hours, which took hold in a macadamia silo on a stunning property in the Byron Hinterland just after 3am Saturday.

Emergency services were battling a fire at a macadamia silo for more than 15 hours in Brooklet, 20km south of Byron Bay.

Just after 3am on Saturday, six Fire and Rescue crews were called to Stonegate Farm in Friday Hut Road, a stunning property in the Byron Hinterland.

Three more crews from the Rural Fire Service were called to support the effort - at one stage almost 50 firefighters were battling the blaze.

Later in the morning more firefighters from the Northern Rivers were called in to give exhausted crews a break.

A spokesperson from NSW Fire and Rescue said it’s still unclear how the fire started.

“The fire affected a silo, among a group of other silos, three quarters full of macadamias,” he said.

“It’s estimated the silo held 40 tonnes of macadamias.”

All the macadamias contained in that silo were burnt or contaminated after it was decided to use firefighting foam to extinguish the blaze.

“The silo eas complete destroyed and all the macadamias in it were contaminated,” the spokesperson said on Sunday morning.

Macadamia silo fire at iconic property near Byron Bay

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Water was taken from a nearby dam on the property to help contain the smouldering within the silo.

“We cut a hole on the side of the silo to get better access to the fire,” the spokesman said.

“If we were not successful, then it would have been burning for much longer and it will be an ongoing operation.”

Stormy clouds did not deliver much rain during the day, with hot temperatures adding to the difficulty of the firefighter’s task.

Stonegate Farm is the headquarters of Pacific Farms, a producer of premium macadamias.

Pacific Farms is an Australian owned and operated family company that grows processes, and sells macadamia kernels.

The original plantation at Brooklet, where the fire happened on Saturday, is home also to the international head office.

Pacific Farms were contacted for comment.