FIRE AT FREEZING WORKS CAUSES £6000 DAMAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1949, Page 3

FIRE AT FREEZING WORKS CAUSES £6000 DAMAGE

TIMARU, December 28 (P.A.) — Damage estimated at £GOOO was done in a fire which gutted the large bag store at the Smithfield freezing works this evening. The fire began about 10.45 p.m. The building was well ablaze when the Timaru Fire Brigade was called at 10.55 p.m. The building was used for storing mutton bags. It was two-gabled, single-storeyed, of brick construction. The brigade got the fire under control before it could spread to the company’s large oil store adjoining the building. There was a quantity (Of stacked timber about 15 feet away from the door. The main building is some 40 yards away. The cause of the fire is not known. The fire was first seen by campers. No fire was noticed at 10.30 p.m. by the nightwatchman. It was raining at the time of the fire, with a moderate south-easterly wind. The manager of the Smithfield freezing works (Mr R. Spooner) said that although a large quantity of mutton bags had been destroyed it was not probable that production would be held up,’ as it was hoped to obtain further supplies of stockinette. The bags are used for wrapping frozen mutton for export., Some bag stamping machinery in the building was badly damaged. The building and contents were insured. „ ;