Addington wrecker’s yard destroyed

Press, 9 November 1984, Page 6

Addington wrecker’s yard destroyed

Fire destroyed an Addington car-wrecking yard and damaged two others last evening. Police went to the scene of the fire, in Maryland Place, to keep back hundreds of sightseers attracted from the Addington Show Grounds by clouds of black smoke.

Eight fire engines were at the scene at the height of the blaze. The corrugated iron and timber buildings in the yard were well alight when the firemen arrived.

The blaze was quickly under control but firefighters remained at the yard overnight. The owner of the yard, could not be reached for comment last evening. Mr Kelvin Field, owner of the Field Autospares, which backs on to the burned-out yard, said that the fire had destroyed at least eight cars and a sleep-out on his property.

He said that a number of antique vehicles stored in another nearby yard had also been destroyed.

The fire was noticed about 8.40 p.m. by three youths as they drove past the junction of Halls Road and Maryland Place. Mr Rodney McQuoid said that as they turned the corner he noticed flames licking the roof of the wrecking yard offices. They drove into Maryland Place, ran into the nearest house, and called the Fire Service.

He and his two friends, Messrs Jim Washbourne and Robert Mazey, than ran over to the yard and pushed several cars away from the burning building. A “terrific amount” of heat was coming from the building, said Mr Mazey. He believed there were two dogs in the burned yard. The youths then roused Mr Field.

The burned yard was formerly a furniture factory

which had been left derelict some time ago, said Mr Field. The car wreckers had moved on to the site only within the last month. Fire engines arriving at the scene had to contend with heavy traffic generated by the Canterbury A. and P. Show.

Clouds of smoke caused by burning tyres attracted a big crowd, but a Fire Service spokesman at the scene said that the number of onlookers had not hindered firemen.

, Fire-safety officers are investigating the blaze, but it is not regarded as suspicious. A Fire Service mobilising officer, Mr Roy Knott, said that the fire had destroyed a range of garages on an area measuring 40m by 40m.

It could not be determined, late last evening how many cars had been stored in the burned wrecking yard.