BURNS SUSTAINED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 44, 1 December 1938, Page 9

BURNS SUSTAINED

SULPHUR CATCHES FIRE.

FERTILISER WORKS EXPLOSION.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 1

Three engines from the metropolitan area were called to deal with an outbreak of fire in the sulphur shed at the Westfield artificial fertiliser works of Kempthorno, Prosser and Company's New Zealand Drug Company, Ltd. Several works employees received slight burns; but were able to resume their duties after receiving treatment. Men were unloading a truck of rock sulphur when the outbreak started. The sulphur is shovelled into a pit below the floor level and is conveyed into a shed by a, mechanical elevator and conveyor. It is thought that a, spark from a machine ignited the sulphur dust, which, when suspended in the atmosphere, is highly inflammable. The ignition of the impregnated atmosphere was accompanied by a. loud explosion, and a sheet of flame shot from the elevator well and outward toward the truck where the men were working. One of the men, whose clothing arid bare shoulders were covered with sulphur dust, was in a direct line j of the flame, and Iris clothing caught fire. He threw himself to the ground and extinguished the smouldering fire by rolling among a pile of empty sacks. His shoulders were scorched in a few places. Two other men received burns on the arms, and four workers nearby suffered from the pungent fumes sent I out by the fire.

The works fire-fighting equipment was brought into operation, and with the arrival of the brigades two leads and numerous chemical extinguishers were brought into play. The flames spread throughout the shed, which contained about 3000 tons of sulphur. The damage was limited to scorching of the roof structure. The stock of sulphur did not suffer, as when stored in bulk, this material only burns superficially.