OIL STORE BLAZE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LX, Issue 9728, 11 June 1924, Page 5

OIL STORE BLAZE.

INVERCARGILL FIRE STILL BURNING.

INTERIOR LIKE A FURNAGIJ.

INVERCARGILL, June 10

The fire at the Imperial Oil Company’s stores is still burning, but all danger to the adjacent stores is past. The walls of brick and reinforced concrete are severely cracked, but withstood the test of the terrific heat. Benzine from the burst eases was retained by a three-foot high unbroken wall at the base of the building. Had the south wall, with the high parapet, fallen there would have been no hope of saving the Vacuum, and Big Tree Companies’ premises. At noon the interior was still a. furnace, and dense clouds of smoko were passing -over the town. —P.A. Later.

Tho fire which broke out in the Imperial Oil C'oy.’s building in Spey St. on Monday afternoon, completely destroying the stock and building, continued to hum all day. In the early morning a strong wind suddenly sprang up and the flames which were still leaping to a. great height threatened danger to the Vacuum Oil C'oy.’s store on the. opposite side of the street, in which were stored' over 40,000 cases of petrol, approximately 1110 cases of kerosene and 20,000 gallons of lubricating oil. One-third of the Vacuum Oil Coy.’s premises are of brick, and the remainder of corrugated iron. Tlie danger to these premises, however was lessened by the fact that tlie front portion of tho store is used to house the stocks of lubricating oil which is not nearly of such an inflammable nature as the motor spirits or kerosene. Nevertheless, it was necessary for the brigade to keep strict watch on these premises, to which drifting sparks formed, a- constant source of danger. As the day advanced the fire abated in intensity and the flames gradually subsided. All day long a dense column of smoke drifted over the town. It is probable that the fire, will continue to burn for some time yet, but the danger which threatened to the nearby buildings is past. On inquiry at the hospital it was ascertained that F. G. Smith, who was injured while endeavoring to check the five in its early stages, is making satisfactory progress.

FATAL ACCIDENT

INVER CAR GILL, June 10. A married man Charles Taylor (about 50) was to-night proceeding in the direction of the fire when he was struck by* a passing engine and truck at the Spey Street railway crossing, his injuries proving fatal before his arrival at the hospital.—P.A.