BIG BLAZE AT WAIROA

Hawera Star, Volume L, 6 February 1931, Page 9

BIG BLAZE AT WAIROA

FREEZING WORKS DESTROYED FIRE BRIGADE HELPLESS “RUINATION TO DISTRICT.” (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WAIROA, Feb. 6. . The most disastrous fire in Wairoa.’s history, meaning ruination to the district after the recent earthquake, occurred last night at 10 o’clock, resulting in the almost complete destruction of the large freezing works of the Wairoa Co-op Meat Co and the Throwing out of employment of nearly 200 men. Owing to the borough water mains being out of action through Tuesday’s earthquake, only a small emergency supply was available at the works, but this was useless. If the usual' wator supply had been available the outbreak would probably have been mastered, but as it wa® the fire brigade were helpless. Hundreds watched the works go up in smoke, and the conflagration represented an awe inspiring sight and lighting up the whole countryside. All the freezing chambers were destroyed with 50,000 freight carcases ready for shipment by the Northumberland at Vraikokapu to-day. The engine room and three freezing blocks have gone. The pelts department is, gutted, but the offices and staff cottages, a boardinghouse, sawmill, timber yard and manure building are untouched. .Portions are still burning'. During the fire ammonia cylinders burst with terrific explosions and hurled fragments in all directions. The huge loss is a tremendous blow to local farmers. The insurances are with the Eagjp, Star and British Dominions office but the amounts “are unavailable. The progin of the fire is unknown, but it is believed to have started in C. store, probably through the fusing of an electric wire.