Fire threatens N.Z. store

Press, 11 January 1978, Page 4

Fire threatens N.Z. store

NZPA staff correspondent i London! British soldiers standing in! for striking firemen fought throughout the night to stop a major fire in South London; spreading to a New Zealand Dairy Board cold store. The fire raged in an emptv warehouse next door to the butter storage for eight hours, before senior Army officers said they had it under con-' trol.

A spokesman for the London Fire Service said that although the fire had been contained early yesterday morning. it was still expected to burn for most of the day. “There was no danger to, life and the main aim of the soldiers during the night was to stop the fire spreading to the cool store next door.” the spokesman said. The store is owned bv Em-

ipire Dairies. Ltd, the marketling arm in Britain of the I Dairy Board. I It is not known how much i butter or cheese was in the i! store, or if there was any i effect from fumes or heat. ,1 Dairy Board officials were not I immediately available for ! comment.

The fire in the empty warehouse began at 1 a.m. yesterday. At one stage the soldiers retreated from the blaze, fearing an ammonia explosion. One explosion destroyed the front of the warehouse, trapping two emptv fire appliances underneath. Three soldiers were injured — two being overcome bv I smoke, and one suffering a lacerated hand. Fifty fire engines were used !to fight that fire; the Army mustered 15 units for yester- ‘ day’s fire.