FIRE IN FREEZING WORKS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 113, 6 February 1939, Page 10

FIRE IN FREEZING WORKS

Serious Damage Caused At Waingawa KILLING DEPARTMENT GUTTED Brigades Prevent Spread To Other Buildings Dominion Special Service. MASTERTON, February 5. What threatened to be the most disastrous fire ever experienced in the Wairarapa broke out in the freezing -works, Waingawa, of Thos. Borthwick and Sons (A/asia.), Ltd., last night. The whole of the killing department, embracing a large area, was completely gutted, and all the equipment used there was destroyed. Coming right at the peak of the killing season the fire was particularly serious, for, in addition to the inconvenience and loss to the firm, a number of men will probably have to stand down till normal activity is resumed. It was stated today by Mr. r. J. Borthwick, director of the firm, that killing would be started again at Waingawa in 10 days’ time, and that it had been arranged to begin drafting on Tuesday for killing elsewhere. The works consist of a number of single and two-story buildings over a great area of land, the outbreak occurring in a double-story building practically in the centre, so that had it not been for the efficient work of the brigades and the excellent pumping system and water pressure, all the buildings, together with ■ the - many thousands of pounds worth of machinery, meat, wool, manures, equipment, and so on, might have been destroyed. The origin of the fire is believed to have been in the drying-room on the first floor, where clothing had been , placed over steam heaters to dry. It is possible that matches might have ignited in some of the clothing. The fire was detected by employees of the firm, and in quick time the works volunteer fire brigade was playing water on the flames from a steampumping system. At the same time the Masterton and Carterton brigades were called. The Masterton brigade received the call at 6.57 p.m., and its pumping unit with a crew of eight, headed by Superintendent T. B. Clark, and Deputy-Superintendent N. Bruce, was quickly on the scene, being followed by the Carterton brigade’s trailer pumping unit and a crew of eight headed by Superintendent R. Wakelin. Firemen’s Task. In spite of their prompt arrival, the firemen were faced with a terrific task, for huge flames were leaping through the woodwork, devouring the massive Oregon pine beams, and eating great holes in the iron roofing, which began crashing down to the floor. All the upstairs cooling floor, an area of 310 ft. by 40ft., was ablaze, as was the killingfloor, 200 ft. by 60ft. The two chiller rooms, the beef house, and the crop room were also on fire. All these rooms were completely gutted, and the lower floor suffered damage from water and falling debris. Altogether some 3700 feet of hose, pouring out 700 gallons of water a minute, were used in fighting the flames. The Masterton brigade ran out three deliveries from the pumping engine on to the cooling floor, which was burning fiercely, and by running leads through the air vents was able to cut off the fire at the freezing chambers, this preventing a disastrous spread. With their trailer pump the Carterton brigade got to work from the Waingawa dam, playing on the flames’ on the roof of the freezer on the west side through the air vents. From the time it was put in commission, the Masterton pumping unit pumped for two hours and a half, it being 9.30 p.m. before the fire was under control, and well after midnight before the firemen could leave the scene. It is considered that had the flames got over the freezing chambers and through to the engine-room it would have been the end of the works, in which are employed some 300 men. Superintendent Clark said that without a doubt there would have been very much more serious consequences but for the pumping unit, which was only recently procured. It was fortunate, too, he added, that the night wa s so still. The Waingawa works are situated some five to six miles south of ’Masterton and are beyond the fire board area, so that it was not oligatory on the brigade to attend. As a safeguard, an' engine was left in Masterton with a crew of eight prepared for an outbreak in the town. Hundreds of people from Masterton and Carterton witnessed the fire, and a good number gave willing assistance to the firemen. Among those who helped subdue the flames was Mr. Borthwick, who was in evening clothes, and members of the staff. Tribute from Board Chairman. “Personally, I did not think there was a chance of saving any part of the works,” said the chairman of the fire board, Mr. Trevor Beetham, this afternoon. “The new engine performed remarkably well, and I am very pleased with what was accomplished. All the men are deserving of the highest praise, and I am not forgetting the Carterton brigade, which performed very creditably.” The buildings are insured with the London and Lancashire Insurance Company, but no indication of the amount of damage it; available from any official source. It is estimated, however, that it will run into some thousands. A total of 120 men are working today clearing away the charred remains of the big building, and more are to be taken on tomorrow. By being given this work the men will not be so seriously affected financially. Coincidentally, it was eight years ago almost to the very day that the company’s works in Hastings were destroyed by the earthquake.