DISASTROUS FIRE.

Grey River Argus, 5 November 1928, Page 3

DISASTROUS FIRE.

PAPER MILLS DESTROYED SYDNEY, Oct her 11. r“ one c.f the most disastrous fires in Sydney in recent years which re suited in th? destruction of the Cumberland Paper Mills on the upper reaches of the Lane Cov River, which flows into Sydney Harbour. The fin* brok out early last Sunday afternoon at the height, of one of the worst gal > ever experienced in the metropolitan area, and. such a widespr ad iniArn ; has seldom been seen in Aust’alia. •: was au awe-inspiring spectacle to s.e tha great flam's licking the eightyfoo high chimney stack,, while the' fire fighters were almost helpless. Down the little valley win re th- mill is situated great heaps of paper danced to destruction, ami were frantically carried in th-, ga’e d< wn th i river and high into the air hreatening the whole of the surrounding bush. Leaping embers set alight the scrub, and there was a wild crackle wlien the bush • vcntuallv cgught fire People ran to their homes to protect hem. The few hydrants round the null could supply only a trickle of water, and because of surrounding fires the brigade could not reach the scene. Au endeavour was inade to send a fire engine from the city by way of a punt, but it was found that the tides were too low to permit this being done. At one time, besides tin mill CD acn s of bush lands w- re aflame, scorching the surrounding hous.s. The mill its<-lf occupied 2(1 acres an i quickly became a blazing furnace. Intermittent explosions shook th-* whole district. The whole area was covered with thick smoke, and no smoke h'lmots were available. The fire brigadesmen were practically helpless, and had to confine their efforts to the* dlffi/rents danger zones, notably the oil store, which contained large quantities of sulphuric acid, besides an enormous quantity of various oils. In the midst of the excitement.

discovered that th- watchman was missing. A s<-arch was im•ucdiately und rtak n, and at the risk f their lives several men entered the • liming building In th .-flice. they lound .he watciuiian engaged in th«» hopeltss task of protecting the records. Almost dazed T.<> was swinging a bucket, and thougr he insist ci that he must save the otfice he was dragged away to safety. In a nearby scrub \\o other men battled for ‘-h ir liv s. They jumped into a creek I-ui the flaraes followed thcin anil scorched their bodies. With watersoaked bodies and blister- <i f et they tried t > drag themselves t<- safety, aad wi h a wonderful display of grit and det rmination th v r ached their objective. The_ thro started at 12.30 p.m. At that lihie the chief t-ngin r was working with a gang of 12 < lose to the milis. Al. a* once the wind reached burr eane ro o anti th< flam s froi i n burning rubbish heap jumped to one of four 90-ton punts laden with pap *. I’h paper at once caught alight, and the gang of men endeavoured to move the pun further into the strnim. But th-- wind beat them. Soon the olhi-r three punts were alight. Tie wind, wh ch was driving in the direction of ’.he mill, carried tin* flam s to the fn.e This was s<k>n ablaze lad with[in an hour the whole of he mill was an inferno.