Children start Timaru fire

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32474, 8 December 1970, Page 1

Children start Timaru fire

(from Our Own Reporter)

TIMARU, Dec. 7.

A high wind and the heat generated by oil and petrol drums exploding in a shed on C. S. Marshall’s property at 44 Rimu Street, Timaru, at 3.45 p.m. today, caused a tractor parked alongside the building to catch fire, igniting rubbish, another shed and trees.

In the spectacular blaze, which was caused by children playing with matches in the loft, a ton of coal was set alight, several drums of petrol, kerosene and oil exploded, a classroom at the Highfield School was endangered, and a tree was turned into a “blazing torch” with flames to 100 ft. The fire also spread to a fowlhouse.

Two engines from the Timaru Fire Brigade attended the outbreak. The Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Mr R. G. Carlaw) said that the fire was once brought under control, but then escaped again. The brigade remained on duty until 7.30 pun. Mr Marshall estimated his loss at several hundred dollars. The tractor was valued at $l5O.

As well as the destruction of petrol, oil and lubricants, garden tools, a sawbench, and bags of chaff were destroyed. A motor-mower was dragged from the burning shed. There were 36 fowls in the henhouse, but they escaped, and are missing.