FIERCE FIR IN GARAGE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28784, 3 January 1959, Page 10

FIERCE FIR IN GARAGE

Premises Burnt Out

clouds-'of smoke, dark from ‘burn-

ing oil. when the building of the Blenheim Road. Gserage. Ltd, at the corner of Blenheim road and Matipo street, was burnt out shortly before 2 p.m. yesterday. Quick work by two units from the Central and Sockbum fire 'stations, which poured six leads of hose oh to the. flames, saved an adjoining shop portiim of the building.77AlFKs T Sparks from a rubbish fire in an incinerator in the rear yard set a paling fence alight. Drums of old oil near the fence then caught fire. Fanned by a strong north-west wind, the flames enveloped the rear ,0f the wooden garage building, and in a flash the whole was fiercely ablaze. Men and boys-among the big crowd which wqs quickly attracted by the huge pall of smoke and flame' climbing high in the air smashed the windows of the garage shop with shoes and stones and removed a quantity of car accessories. At this time, the rear of the garage was well alight. Two heavy explosions, probably from burning drums of oil. were heard.

With the arrival of the fire brigade, water was poured on the blazing building, and the fire quickly brought under control. The rear and side walls, however, had been practically burnt away, only charred studs remaining, and the roof of the building was very badly bharred. The facade of the building suffered less damage. ; Tools and garage equipment were destroyed, and the paintwork on a light truck and two cars in the rear yard was damaged by the intense heat from the blaze.