TREMENDOUS BLAZE

Evening Star, Issue 20633, 5 November 1930, Page 14

TREMENDOUS BLAZE

HUGE VARNISH FACTORY FOUR ACRES INVOLVED. Thousands of people in North-west London were roused from their beds early on tho morning of August 28 when, with a roar, a huge varnish factory at Colindalo, Hendon, burst into flames. The area involved in tlw fire was about four acres, and comprised the workshops, stores, and office premises of the Titaniuc Emaillite Company, Limited. While fighting the blaze two firemen were overcome by fumes and a man badly burned was taken to a hospital. Stacked with drums of lacquer, cellulose, and varnish, used in thc > making of aeroplane “ dope,” tho promises woro soon well alight, the roar and crackle of tho flames being punctuated every few moments by loud explosions as containers of inflammable burst and scattered thejr contents _ in all directions. The main building was saved. Tho flames could bo seen for some miles, and people flocked in cars to see tho blaze, but the heat, combined with tike already oppressive atmosphere of tho night, "was so intense that no one could get near to tho premises. Not far away were a number of houses, and tho Colindalo Tube station, and tho firemen confined their attention to preventing the spread of the flames.

Mr Harley, who lives within 100yds of the factory, stated that the sound of tlvo explosion shook the whole house. “It was like a battery of artillery,” lie said, “ and awoke mo in a fright. The sheets of flames lit up the whole district so that I was able to see my way about the house without putting the light on.”