FACTORY GUTTED BY FIRE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25738, 25 February 1949, Page 6

FACTORY GUTTED BY FIRE

Building In Tuam Street x MUCH EQUIPMENT DESTROYED

Damage amounting to several thousand pounds was caused by a fire which gutted a large single-storeyed brick, building at 34 Tuam street about 6.30 o’clock last evening. The building was* owned by Mr I. B. Cromb and was valued about £5OOO. It was occupied by six different companies, all of which lost much valuable equipment. The alarm was given by a young girl in the White Swan Hotel, who saw the fire fronxA window and raced along the street to ah alarm box. Five units of the Central Fire Brigade were' quickly on the scene. Leads were run in on each side of the building, which was filled with smoke, but the fire had a good hold and was burning strongly through the partitions dividing each factory and in the roof. , Leads were thrust through windows on each side of the building and a steady stream of water was directed on to the seat of the fire by a fireman on top of the Tilling-Stevens ladder, which had been raised in the street. Leads were also taken through the front door. Firemen could not discover where the fire started, though it was thought that it began near the .front of the building. Observers from the hotel said that the fire seemed to start at the front with a terrific flash and then spread rapidly through the building. Oil stored near the front ot the building did not explode, though the tins were scorched by the heat. As the streams of water took effect, firemen were able to clamber through windows and direct hoses where the fire was burning most .fiercely. Shortly after 7 o’clock it was under control, but firemen remained on duty all night to watch for Small outbreaks. Occupiers of Building The occupiers of the building were Mr Cromb, Paykel Bros., oil merchants, Modern Equipment, Ltd., Paramount Industries, Ltd., Paramount Cabinets, Ltd., Mr Robert McGloin. a woodworker, and the Arrow Electric PJating Company. Mr Cromb’s office was not severely damaged and firemen concentrated on preventing the oil from exploding. Most of the other business premises and stocks were destroyed, though much of the equipment in the electro-plating section was saved.

The fire burnt very fiercely in the premises occupied by Paramount Cabinets and many radios and much radio equipment were destroyed. Valuable machinery in the woodwork shop was destroyed and furniture and timber were also lost. The fire was stopped before it reached the back of the building, which was occupied by the electro-plating company. Heavy clouds of smoke attracted thousands to the fire and soon after the brigade arrived the street outside the building- was packed. Police and traffic inspectors had difficulty in keeping people back on the footpaths and ropes were finally used to confine the crowd.

Little Worth Salvaging In most parts of the building little appeared worth salvaging last evening.' After 8 o’clock hoses were still being played on smouldering beams apd water was several inches deep in parts of -the building. Most of the interior structure was burnt through and the divisions between the workshops were marked only by charred beams. The brick shell appeared sound, but the roof had fallen in many parts. It is not known how the fire started. Many of the occupiers did not leave the building until after 6 o’clock and when they locked up everything was normal.

The building was insured by Mr Cromb and the majority of the occupiers had their equipment insured.