Fire hits factory roof

Press, 24 December 1985, Page 3

Fire hits factory roof

By

CHRIS TOBIN

in Timaru

Timaru’s Fire Service managed to prevent what could have been a big chemical fire in the factory of New Zealand Light Leathers, Ltd, in Meadows Road, Washdyke, yesterday. Light Leathers’ day shift staff of 120 were withdrawn and surrounding roads were closed by the Ministry of Transport and the police as 18 firemen fought a blaze on the roof of the factory’s chemical processing plant.

Fears were held that the flames might.--spread to.' chemicals used for treating hides but fortunately the flames were concentrated in the roof and, the 'firemen soon brought" them under control. * ’ According to the Timaru •. deputy fire chief, Mr A. H. McDonald, the fire began when a fan motor-broke down, sending sparks to the polyurethane insulation covering the inside of the factory roof, which ignited. Dense black smoke made

the firemen’s job more ’diffi- ' CUlt ;* “The big problenr was that we couldn’t see the seat of the. fire and. we had to rely on . the sprinkler fire system,” said Mr McDonald. Three appliances' pumped water; into the factory’s sprinkler system Sand by 12.30 *p.m:, 40 minutes after being called, the firemen had the blaze under control. The 'factory’s manager, Mr Nigel Dobson, .said he was relieved no staff member or fireman was hurt. He

said that only about 5 per cent of the building was damaged. The factory’s night shift began work as usual at 4 p.m. and some were involved in cleaning up the building. Mr Dobson said the factory would close today for the Christmas holidays and reopen on January 13.

New Zealand Light Leathers exports most of its leather goods to the Far East and the United States.