FIRE AT BELFAST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20142, 11 January 1940, Page 8

FIRE AT BELFAST

WOOLPACKING SHEDS SPECTACULAR BLAZE INFLAMMABLE MATERIAL SUBSTANTIAL LOSSES (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. A fire last night gutted the woolpacking sheds of the fellmongery department at the Belfast works of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Cornpan v.

The contents of the sheds, including about 100 bales of wool, some 42 bales of stockinet, and three wool presses were destroyed.

Prompt action by the company's fire brigade and co-operation between the works staff and firemen from the central fire station confined the outbreak to the packing sheds.

Valuable wool driers at one end of the gutted building and cut off from the fire by a brick wall and fireproof doors were not damaged.

The fire had a good hold when discovered and the inflammable contents of the sheds made a great blaze. The building, which was of brick and corrugated iron with a woccien floor, was soon burning fairly fiercely. Most of the woodwork inside was greasy from wool and this helped the rapid spread of the flames. The outbreak was got under control before midnight and early this morning it was extinguished. The loss will run into several thousands.