Fire throws 14 out of jobs

Press, 7 January 1987, Page 1

Fire throws 14 out of jobs

Up to 14 people have been left without jobs after a fire destroyed a moss factory at Sergeants Hill, Westport, on Monday. The owners of the factory, Kanuka Enterprises, discovered yesterday that the building and contents were not insured. Mr Robin Earnshaw, a partner in the business, said about $lOO,OOO of property and moss was lost in the blaze. The business had been going only about two years, and did not have enough in reserve to start again.

“It looks as though

everyone — the four partners and the other workers — will be going on the dole,” said Mr Earnshaw.

The company employed up to 10 pickers and sorters, depending on the work needing to be done.

The fire, which started between 11 p.m. and 11.30 p.m., burned quickly because of the large quantity of dried moss stored inside the 224 sq m building.

Mr Earnshaw had been celebrating his birthday with friends at his home near the factory. They did not notice the blaze until

the power was cut and the fire could be seen through a window. A coal-fired boiler was used for drying the moss, but Mr Earnshaw said there had never been any trouble with it before. “It was virtually a foolproof drying system,” he said. The Westport fire chief, Mr Pat O’Dea, said the fire could be seen from the centre of the town when the alarm was raised at 11.40 p.m. Both fire engines were needed and drew water from a nearby creek. Mr O’Dea said the building was finally left to

burn because the creek ran dry and no other buildings were at risk. The blaze is being investigated by Fire Service inspectors.

Mr Earnshaw said the building had been insured with a company which merged with another. The new insurance company did not want to insure the building. An “obscure" insurance company was found which would cover the building, but final policy papers had not been signed before Monday’s fire. Mr Earnshaw was told yesterday that the company would not pay on the loss.