SPECTACULAR FIRE

Evening Star, Issue 18883, 6 March 1925, Page 9

SPECTACULAR FIRE

AT WOOLWICH ARSENAL. Press Association—3t Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 4. (Received March 6, at 1.10 a.m.) One of the biggest fires known in the London area broke out at _ Woolwich Arsenal, demolishing the tailors shop and the paper and leather lactones. ine flames were seen over a radius of lea the fire was three-quarters of a mile distant from the explosives magazines. Two hundred police Controlled the arsenal entrances. —Sydney Sun Cable ‘ LONDON, March 5. Two hundred firemen were still workine at tho fire in the Woolwich Arsenal early inis monring, though the outbreak was under control at midnight. iho Are was most spectacular, and the glaie was seen from London. The fire engines dashed across tho London bridges, "and at one time there was n procession of over forty engines through the Woolwich streets. . Thousands of persons, realising the danger to the adjacent buildings, left thenhouses, fearing explosions. The destroyed factory was utilised chictly for the manufacture and storage of antigas masks, and contained a huge stock of inflammables. —A. and N.Z. Cable, [Woolwich Arsenal is on the south side of the Thames, opposite tho Royal Albert Dock, several miles below London.] A FORTUNATE BREEZE. KEPT FLAMES FROM EXPLOSIVES. LONDON, March 5. (Received March 6, at 8.50 a.m.) Fire engines from all parts of London rushed through the night to the blaze at Woolwich Arsenal. Thousands of people ■watched the flames, which started in the tailors’ shop and spread to tho anti-gas factory. The damage is already estimated a t several thousands, but so fur no casualties have been reported. If the wind had been in the opposite direction the fire would have reached the explosive factory, resulting in an appalling disaster.—Reuter. (Received March 6, at 10.40 a.m.) Tho lire at Woolwich Arsenal is officially stated to have badly damaged throb buildings, comprising the toilers' and saddlers workshops and stores. The cause of tho outbreak is not known.—Renter.