FIRE IN “DOMINION” PLANT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31206, 2 November 1966, Page 1

FIRE IN “DOMINION” PLANT

(New Zealand Preet Association/ WELLINGTON, November 1. Fire extensively damaged part of the top floors of the “Dominion” building this afternoon after an explosion in the stereotyping department.

The fire which started near a tank of diesel oil spread rapidly along the sixth floor of the building and down to the fifth floor.

More than 500 persons were evacuated from the building

as seven fire-engines arrived tr quell the blaze. Flames and. black smoke billowed from windows before the firemen had the fire under control.

The general manager of the Wellington Publishing Company (Mr J. A. Burnet) said tonight that the amount of damage would not be known for several days. It would be probably two or three weeks before the damage was repaired. Some stereotyping equipment would require extensive repairs. Parts of the fifth and sixth floors would require extensive redecorating and refurnishing. There had also been some flooding

on all floors of the building and some reels of newsprint had been damaged by water. Firemen and passers-by had

to lift away locked cars in Bond street to make way for the fire-engines. One car parked beneath the section of the building on fire, was moved only seconds before large blobs of molten glass and pieces of wood and plaster showered the area.