INVERCARGILL OIL STORE FIRE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 220, 11 June 1924, Page 9

INVERCARGILL OIL STORE FIRE

BURNING THROUGHOUT YESTERDAY (BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Invercargill, June 10. The fire which broke out in the Imperial Oil Company’s building m bpey Street yesterday afternoon completely destroying the stock and building, continued to burn all to-dav. In the early morning a strong wind suddenly sprang up, and the flames, yhich weie still leaping to a great height threatened danger to the Vacuum Oil Comparty’s store, on the opposite side ot the street, in which were stored over 40.000 cases of petrol, approximately 1110 cases of kerosene and 20,000 gallons of lubricating oil. One-third of the Vacuum Oil Company’s premises are of brick, and the remainder of corrugated iron. Ihe danger to these premises, however, was lessened by the fact, that the front portion of the store is used to house the stocks of lubricating oil, which is not nearly of such an inflammable nature as the motor spirits or kerosene. Nevertheless, it was necessary for the brigade to keep a strict watch on these premises, to| whioli drifting sparks formed a constant source of danger. As the day advanced, the names gradually subsided. All day long a dense column of smoke drifted oyev the town. It is probable that the fire will continue to burn for some time yet, but the danger which threatened to nearby buildings is past. On inquiry at the hospital, it was ascertained that F. G. Smith, who was injured while endeavouring .to check the fire in its early stages, is making satisfactory progress.