AMMONIA TANK BURSTS

Evening Star, Issue 18531, 14 January 1924, Page 5

AMMONIA TANK BURSTS

SENSATION IN TEA BOOMS. GIRLS 1 RESCUED BY MASKED FIREMEN, The bursting of a refrigerator tank et the Rivoli Tea Rooms in Hot,’ey House, Collins street, Melbourne, on December 31, followed by the release of powerful ammonia fumes, might have resulted in very serious consequences (says the ‘ Age ’) had it not been for the prompt amval of the fire brigade and the efficiency of a new gas mask, which enabled an officer to , enter the refrigerating room and turn off the valves in the refrigerator from which the*fumes were emanating. The explosion occurred shortly after 10 a.m. The chef and his stall were in the Iritichen preparing' foodstuffs, and several waitresses were engaged in various duties about the kitchen and the cafe, when a peculiar sound was heard to come from the refrigerator. It was followed by a slight explosion, and then strong fumes of ammonia were omitted from the refrigerator. The fumes caused the skin of the cook and his assistants to tingle and smart, and as they, effected a hasty retreat water commenced to stream 1 from their eyes. They rushed into the cafe proper, which is situated on a lower floor, and informed the proprietress, Mrs Russell, of the occurrence. Realising the danger, She noted with great promptness, ringing up the fire brigade and informing it of the nature of the explosion. By this , lame the fumes had penetrated through adjacent passages to the cafe and - ' other rooms in close proximity. Those who came in contact with the ammonia gas felt their faces smart and bum, and. many shed involuntary tears. For a while intense excitement reigned, and there was a hurried and general exodus down the stairs of those employed In that parti of the building. When the fire brigade arrived inquiries were immediately made os to the safety of all those who had been working In the vicinity of the explosion. The firemen learned that two young women employed by a dressmaker, whose room Is dose to the Rivoli Cafe, were still in the room. Fortunately the window of this room overlooks Howey Arcade, and the girls were thus enabled to lean out and avoid the worst of the fumes. Some of the spectators urged them to open the door and make a dash downstairs. They attempted to do so, but when they opened the door the gas fames were so powerful thatt they desisted from the attempt. Immediately their predicament was made clear to Mr Kemp, the officer in charge of the William street detachment that answered the call, ho and the foreman, Mr Hayden, donning gas masks, hurried up the stairs to their rescue. Entering the room where the two women were imprisoned, ’they induced them to run the gauntlet ox the and conveyed them in a half-fainting condition to safety. They quickly recovered from their trying experience. The next problem that faced the firemen was to out off the Bow of ammonia gas which was still being emitted in oonsidnrable volumes from the reirigemtor. When Mr H. B. Leo recently returned from a trip abroad he brought from America the patent Burrell gas mask. Satisfactory private teste have been mode of this mask, but this was the first time an opportunity had occurred of putting its efficiency to a practical test. Districtofficer Kemp donned a Burrell mask and entered the refrigerating chamber. The mask proved most effective, Mr Kemp being enabled to turn off the valves operating the compressor, thus stopping the gas from generating. He then opened the doors and window’s, thus allowing the fumes to escape. The atmosphere cleared within a short period, end the employees in the Biyoll Tea Rooms and those in the surrounding rooms were enabled to resume their work. Though some of the girls wore upset by ■ thete "trying experience, none was seriously •ndisnosod. The only loss incurred by Mrs Russell, apart from the damaged refrigemtor, was tho oostt of tho foodstuffs in tho kitchen, which were rendered unfit for consumption through bcfhg impregnated with the ammonia fumes. District-officer Kemp stated afterwards iVi at' the Burrell gas mask was the most effective mask he had ever worn. Not the slightest odor of gas had penetrated the mask in tho refrigerating room.