POTTERY WORKS FIRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 119, 4 March 1950, Page 4

POTTERY WORKS FIRE

HEAVY DAMAGE CAUSED BLAZE IN TEMUKA (P.A.) TIMARU, This Day. Starting in the centre of the manufacturing section of works, fire swept through the extensive factory of New Zealand Insulators Limited at Thomas Street, Temuka, last night, destroying about one-third of the premises - and causing damage running into tens of thousands of pounds.

The fire, which engaged the attention of both the Temuka and Timaru Fire Brigades, was a major disaster for the Temuka district as the factory employed' more than 150 workers and has been the major industry in the town for the last 50 years. The fire was first noticed at 8.15 o’clock by Mr George Peters, who was working in the factory, and who promptly gave the alarm. By the time the Temuka Volunteer Fire Brigade arrived, a fierce blaze was raging in the centre of the works with flames shooting from the roof. Operating from the corner of Godley and Thomas Streets, the brigade soon had the trailer pump in action, but the blaze progressed with such speed it was soon evident that the manufacturing section of the factory would be destroyed. Meanwhile, a call had been made to the Timaru Fire Brigade, who brought two engines and a trailer pump to the scene. Even with this added assistance, the fire gained on the firemen and the flames, which at times reached to a height of more than 50ft, swept through the building. Rain fell heaviy throughout the worst of the blaze and made conditions most unpleasant for the firemen and dozens of voluntary assistants. Continuing for more than an hour, the blaze worked through from the dipping room to the two driers and finally to the main room, which contained machinery valued at thousands of pounds. Beams and heavy machinery falling to the ground did not make the firemen’s task easy. A continuous flow of water from five leads prevented the fire from spreading to other sections of the factory.

Water from River

The Temuka Brigade operated two leads and on their arrival, the Timaru Brigade operated from two hydrants in adjacent streets and brought water across paddocks from the Temuka River. This supply was brought into action in quick time, considering that a distance of several hundreds yards had to be traversed with the hose. Hundreds of residents of Temuka and district watched the fire and all fully realised the proportions of the disaster. Employees of the factory watched anxiously-as the blaze swept through the centre of their livelihood.

, The manager of the factory (Mr T. N. Lovatt) said it was almost impossible to give even an estimate of the damage caused. . An accurate statement would not be available for a day or two, he said. Stocks of manufactured goods had not been touched by the fire, he said, and valuable machinery in the engineering workshop had been saved. Arrangements would be made at the earliest possible hour to establish the position of the staff in the future.

The fire had destroyed the main manufacturing sectipn of the works, Mr Lovatt added, and work would naturally be at a standstill for a time, but he hoped, after consulting his principals in Wellington, to start on reconstruction plans as soon as possible.

The factory was insured, but the amount is not available.

By 9.45 p.m. most of the fire had burnt out and the firemen were playing water on the smouldering remains.

DESTRUCTION AT TANNERY SPECTACULAR FIRE (P.A.) DUNEDIN, March 3. Extensive damage was done tiy fire in the spray shop of Messrs Bayley, Tomkins and Hedges, Ltd., Green Island Tanneries, early this evening in which a number of hides were destroyed. The shop is detached from the main buildings which cover about an acre and a half and it was fortunate that the fire did not spread to about 25 drums of highly inflammable and explosive liquid used in processing work.

The fire brigades who worked under considerable difficulties and with a good deal of risk were responsible for a splendid save. The fire was discovered by one of llie night shift workers who was about to enter the spray room. He was almost overcome by smoke. He gave the alarm to the employees in other departments.. There were three loud explosions, one of which is reported to have shaken a house about 500 yards away. Great columns of smoke then rose from the building. The contents of one of the drums in the building wer9 shot into the air to finish up in a creek which runs at the back of the tannery. The grass bordering the creek w r as still smouldering more than an hour later. Stored outside the spray room were drums containing highly explosive material. If one of these drums bad become heated there would have been an explosion which could have caused all the others to explode. Although the spraying department of the tannery will necessarily be out Df-action for some time it is not expected that the general activities of the tannery will be held up in any way. The insurances were not available to-night.