FIRE IN JOINERY FACTORY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25608, 24 September 1948, Page 8

FIRE IN JOINERY FACTORY

SMART SAVE BY BRIGADE

Employees of the W. Williamson Construction Company, Ltd., at 175 to 187 Montreal street, quiekly evacuated the building at 1.50 p.m. yesterday when fire broke out between the ceiling and the roof in the front part of the building above the office. The joinery factory immediately behind the offices was quickly filled with smoke.

But for the prompt arrival of the Christchurch Fire Brigade it is likely that the outbreak could have had serious consequences, as a strong northwest .wind tanned the fire which was starting to Spread along the roof joists to large stacks of timber. 1 ome of the employees, on noticing the fire, made an attempt to save their equipment, but sparks from the flames showered down on them and the jersey of one man was singed. When the fire was noticed the office staff immediately started moving furniture, records, and other office equipment on to the footpath. The fire burnt through the ceiling above one of the offices and the door leading into the joinery shop was badly scorched. Before the brigade arrived some waste timber between the ceiling and the roof was badly burned and when the water was played on to the flames it poured through info the offices below, over desks, chairs, and books. To prevent further damage, after the fire had been put out, office equipment was covered.

It is thought that the fire started from a fan hopper.