WATER REACHES POWER CABLE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29384, 10 December 1960, Page 12

WATER REACHES POWER CABLE

Explosion Blows Out Window, Starts Fire

(From Our Own Reporterf TIMARU, December 9.

A window at Bailey’s Service Station on the corner of North and Stafford streets was blown out, and asphalt on the footpath in North street disintegrated at 6.45 a.m. today when water reached a 11,000 volt cable, caused a flash-over, and set fire to the oil in the pit.

The Timaru Fire Brigade which received an emergency call from the police, sent one engine and soon had the fire under control. The electrical engineer of the Municipal Electricity Department (Mr R D Veitch) said the supply was. interrupted because of heavy rain—about 100 points was recorded at the Timaru Gardens between 9 p.m last evening and 5 a m today—which penetrated to the equipment in an underground sub-station at the end of North street.

“It caused a flash-over which tripped out the main switch so the power went off in a ribbon of consumers all along two miles of cable.” Mr Veitch added. Signs of Petrol Leak

He said there were signs that petrol was leaking into the substation, and that petrol gas evidently ignited, sprung the substation top. broke the nearest window of the service station, and ignited some oil No damage was caused to equipment, and the fault was rectified in 61 minutes.

“We are taking the opportunity to see water does not reach it again,” Mr Veitch said.