Battle to save freezing works
By
NIGEL MALTHUS
Volunteer firemen from throughout South Otago joined forces to save Balclutha’s Finegand freezing works yesterday after the slaughterboard floor erupted in flames. The fire broke out about 2 p.m. and quickly spread through the slaughterboard — an area about the size of a rugby field on the top storey. It spread from there to the small goods shop below, said the Balclutha fire chief, Mr Ernie Muir. The fire-fighters concentrated on stopping the spread at that point, then bringing the fire under control, a task which took “a good two hours,” he said.
About 60 men from seven volunteer brigades — Kaitangata, Milton, Owaka, Clutha Valley, Kaka Point, Waiwera South, and Balclutha — fought the fire. An engine from the Lawrence brigade was also called in to stand by at Balclutha.
The fire broke out as about a dozen men were working on the slaughterboard, doing off-season maintenance and installing a new inverted dressing system. One of them suffered smoke inhalation and cut his hand when he broke a window in attempts to get out. He was taken to Balclutha Hospital for treatment and was later discharged.
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Press, 16 August 1989, Page 9
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192Battle to save freezing works Press, 16 August 1989, Page 9
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