SPECTACULAR FIRE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 291, 4 September 1933, Page 10

SPECTACULAR FIRE

Soap and Candle Works in Flames DAMAGE EXCEEDS £15,000 By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, September 3. More than £15,000 damage was done by a spectacular fire which partly destroyed the Zealandia Soap, Candle, and Trading Company’s factory at Belfast, early on Sunday morning. The fire began in the soap department of the factory, and completely gutted it, as well as the sand-soap and soappowder and box-making departments. The tallow and candle department,, which adjoins the buildings destroyed, was saved, as well as several store buildings separated from the main block. The fire was first seen at 1.20 on Sunday morning. So rapidly Hid the flames spread that, within ten minutes, it was possible to read a newspaper by the light of the flames a quarter of a mile from the factory, Observers who were early on the scene say that the lire began in the upper story of the soap department. It spread with great speed in the inflammable materials stored in the buildings, and soon broke through the wall Into the sand-soap department, from where it spread to the box-making factory. The Christchurch Fire Brigade arrived in time to prevent the flames from spreading to the tallow department, .-which was the only part of the main block saved. . ; ■ Some salvage work was done by spectators. A rake of loaded railway wagons standing in the factory siding was pushed clear of the flames, and casks of resin were carried out of the building before the flames drove the salvage party away. The remaining casks burned fiercely.' The fire burned furiously until daylight, and had not burned itself out until rain fell early this afternoon. How the fire started is a mystery. There was no furnace in the building, and no Are had been left there. About 35 men and boys are employed in the factory, but arrangements already have been made to continue the manufacture of the factory’s products elsewhere, and there will be little loss of employment. . The manager of the works estimates the loss at from £15,000 to £lB,OOO. The total insurances are £35,000, but it is not. yet ascertainable how much o fthis covers the parts jOf the building destroyed. ■