PLANING MILL FIRE

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 January 1925, Page 2

PLANING MILL FIRE

STRATFORD AND BLAIR’S. Fire which broke out in the planing mill of Messrs Stratford and Blair, sawmiligrs and timber, merchants, was responsible for an urgent call to the , Brigade shortly before one o’clock today.' --f. The mill was not working at the time of the outbreak, it being the employees’ lunqh-time, The fire had a good hold before it was noticed. The Exchange was immediately communicated with, by ’phone, and from there the alarm was given to the. brigade. Large quantities of dense yellow smoke were then pburing. from the building. Several" leads of hose were qhickly,' brought to bear, and the fight with the flames began. At this time flames burst through the roof of the planing sited and the iron of the roof began to colour, showing that the conflagration was reaching ominous proportions inside. The firemen first directed their attention. to saturating the piles of dry and seasoned timber stacked all rotmd the burning building. ' It was fortunate that the breeze was very light, as had there been a strong winfl, the timber would havo ‘caught alight. It was soon seen, however, that danger from this source was negligible, and the wafer. was turned on to the blazing mass of timber and . shavings inside. .. Five leads were brought to bear on the building in addition to a chemicnl load from the fire engine. Before half-an-hour had elapsed f rora the time of an’trtrf, the brigade had the fire well under control. Now and again flames would break out in fresh places, but these were quickly subdued. ’’/The fire apparently originated in the second; storey of the planing shed, where there was a great pile of timber and shavings from the machine. These burnti furiously and took a good hold before many minutes had elapsed. The building was extensively damaged, , ; the rafters and studs being badly burnt, , as were also the. ventilator frames, windows anj floors. As far' as can be ascertained the machinery.has suffered no damage. Many,. willing helpers removed the heavy Beits from the machines. These are valuable and easily damaged by fire. . ..This afternoon the ni'en \w.ere employed cleaning up the debris, and before many days it is hoped to have the mill working at full capacity. 1 The insurances on'building, plant and stock ariiourit to £5OO, fhe policies being held By ..the' Ph oenix office.