reports on explosion OF FUEL TANK

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28794, 15 January 1959, Page 7

reports on explosion OF FUEL TANK

The Internal Affairs Department is now considering reports from Europa Oil (XX) Ltd„ an 4 the Christchurch City Council's inspector. on the fuel tank explosion at the Clarendon Hotel last month, when three men were oeriously injured. Ihe reports have been sent to the chief inspector of explosives (Mr E- Sellens), whose office administers the Dangerous Goods Regulations. The welder and two of the oil company’s servicemen, who were working in the narrow alleyway at the back entrance to the hotel Kitchen, were seriously burned when the tank exploded and fire broke out late on the afternoon o f December 16.

Still at Burwood All there are still in Burwooa Hospital. Mr Arnold Flitcroft, tbe welder, and Mr James Gordon, one of the servicemen, were both operated on yesterday afternoon, and are still on the seriously ill list. Mr Arthur Francis Fuller, the second serviceman, is now off the seriously ill list tnd is reported to be comfortable. The 500-gallon tank was a new one, which was being installed in place of a smaller one to store fuel for the hotel’s hot water and

central heating plant. It is understood that during the afternoon before the explosion two company employees calibrated the tank.

A common method of calibration, The Press” was told yesterday, is to pour a small amount of petrol into a tank, soap the seams, increase the inside pressure with compressed air. Petrol, bubbling through the soap, shows where the tank is leaking. The City Council licenses these tanks, but this one was not licensed at the time of the accident, as it had not been installed,” said the city health inspector (Mr A. P. Millthorpe), yesterday. Our inspector ‘of dangerous goods (Mr H. E. Wright), has made his report on this accident, and it has been sent to Wellington. We have also received a copy of the oil company’s report to the chief inspector of explosives.” Procedure Section 290 of the Dangerous Goods Regulations, said Mr Millthorpe, laid down the procedure to be adopted in clearing tanks of dangerous fumes, when this was necessary.

The Christchurch manager of Europa Oil. Mr O. A. Y. Johnston. said yesterday that his company’s report had been sent to Wellington, but that no reply had been received.

The chief inspector is un likely to make any recommendations until the men still seriously ill have been interviewed and he has those reports to complete his file.