Heater Exploded Like A Bomb

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30744, 7 May 1965, Page 7

Heater Exploded Like A Bomb

(New Zealand Press Association) HASTINGS. May 5. A chip heater exploded with the violence of a bomb burst, turning the kitchen of a house in McLeod street, Hastings, into a shambles last night.

A young housewife, who was standing about Bft from the point of the explosion, was uninjured by flying steel, huge chunks of ’ cast-iron, masonry, glass and burning coal that swept around her. The explosion tossed her heavily to the ground.

The house is a modern bungalow near the Hastings Hospital. It is owned by Mr Harley Gardiner, an engineer, and is occupied by Mr and Mrs A. C. McDonald. The steel and cast iron heater, which had been burning with coal and wood fuel for about three-quarters of an hour, wrenched itself free of its brick surround and pipe fittings, and turned itself into a flying-bomb when the explosion occurred.

The blast punched a hole about 3ft in diameter through one wall releasing some of Its violence in the bathroom. Wall studs were forced r.part, the heavy bath was tilted and as the blast carried Across the bathroom it partially wrecked the opposite wall.

A jagged piece of metal, shaped like an axe head. Scythed across the bathroom about chest height and embedded itself in the wall—partially cutting through a metal towel rail. Airs McDonald, still shaken this morning, said she was preparing a meal about 6.30 p.m Bft from the heater. A pie was in the electric stove. “1 heard the terrific

explosion and found myself on the floor,” she said. Mrs McDonald found later her clothing had been perforated with a series of burns from the glowing coals thrown from the heater’s firebox.

Where the chip heater once stood was a shattered collection of brickwork, splintered wood and steel. It was fortunate Mrs McDonald was thrown to the floor by the force of the explosion. The cause of the explosion, according to Mr McDonald, was that return-valves completing the water circulation system between the electric hot water cylinder and the heater were turned off. He said the heater, through a system of valves, was I adapted to give a form of central heating in the house. Mr McDonald said that although he and his wife had occupied the house for about two years and a half they had scarcely used the chip heater. “There is this complicated system of valves and these ■ hadn't been explained to us ! properly,” he said.

When the fire was lit, water imprisoned in the jacket of the heater turned to steam and gradually built up a tremendous pressure until the explosion occurred.

As far as we are concerned both the way to the West and the way to the East go via Paris.—Franz-Josef Strauss.