FIRE AT DENNISTON

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 9

FIRE AT DENNISTON

COAL COMPANY’S OFFICE DESTROYED A fire which destroyed the office and administrative building of the Westport Coal Company, recently acquired by the State, was discovered at 5.30 a.m. yesterday. Flames were seen shooting through the roof of the building, and the Denniston Fire Brigade was quickly called. The outbreak had such a strong hold, however, that it was impossible to save the building, and the brigade’s efforts were concentrated on saving an adjoining residence to which the fire had spread. The office building was totally destroyed, and many plans and records of the mining area were lost. The building incorporated the main pay office and six other rooms used by the manager, surveyors, and clerks. It was formerly used as staff quarters • and housed directors of the coal company and other officials when they visited Denniston. A flat which was being erected as an addition to the main building and intended for use by the paymaster was also completely destroyed. Later in the morning members of the mine’s carpentry department came in to Westport and transferred office equipment and other material from the Westport office to Denniston, where temporary accommodation was being arranged for the administrative officials. The amount of insurance, if any, on the building was not known yesterday.