C.D. exercise goes wrong: building burnt

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 2

C.D. exercise goes wrong: building burnt

Rangiora reporter Fire destroyed a building at Donaghys industries, Ltd, Waikuku, early on Saturday when a civil defence exercise went wrong. The fire destroyed a 15m x 15m timber-frame, asbestos cement sheet-clad building, housing an oil batching plant for preserving sisal baler twine.

The factory manager, Mr Rob Duggan, was unable to put a value on the damage, but one estimate .was about $40,000. The occasion was part of series of week-end exercises arranged for a combined exercise by Red Cross-Civil Defence light rescue teams, including a Ministry of Works team from Christchurch and others from further north.

Mr Duggan who is also assistant leader of the Rangiora Civil Defence light rescue team, said that

Rangiora had been asked to organise a practical smoke rescue exercise between 10 p.m. on Friday and 1 a.m. on Saturday. This was done by using a furnace in the preservative batching plant. Mr Duggan was not sure how the fire started. A furnace door might have been slightly ajar, letting air in, he said. The building was separate from the main factory and production would not be affected. The Woodend Volunteer Fire Brigade was at the scene from 1 a.m. to 3.30 a.m. but the fire was under control within 10 minutes.

A garage and a small 1962 model car were destroyed in another fire at the property of a Mr Tyler, 17 Stalkers Road, Woodend Beach, on Saturday afternoon. Units from Woodend and Rangiora were called about 4.15 p.m.