FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1941, Page 6

FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS

MIRAMAR OUTBREAK

PAINT FACTORY DAMAGED

Explosions shook portion of Miramar last night while firemen battled to prevent flames from spreading from the blazing varnish preparation section of Pinchin, Johnson, and Co.'s paint works, Stone Street, to larger portions of the plant, also containing highly inflammable materials, nearby. Powerful pumping engines sent up a barrage of water which effectively prevented the flames from leaping the narrow space between the two buildings.

It was about 1.50 a.m. when the outbreak was reported, and the Miramar Brigade was quickly on the scene, being reinforced shortly afterwards by Newtown and three pumps from Wellington. In the main varnish shop, which contained large vats filled with inflammable materials, the fire had a firm hold, and soon the flames had shot through the whole of the buildIng. Explosions, either from exploding vnts or from pockets of gas, shook the district, and the five was soon so fierce that the danger of it spreading to the main buildings became verjj veal. The building was surrounded with jets of water, and « special barrage was set up between it and the adjoining twostorey building where more inflammable stoves were kept.

Heavy streams of water eventually brought the flamos under control, but not. until three-quarters of an hour of feverish work hart been put in, and it required another hour and a half of solid iliTtlshtlng before the outbreak was subdued,

The tiro is believed to have had its origin in the vicinity of a small office in the varnish section building, but so Cnr the actual eauae has not been ascertained. Investigations are being carried n\U.