PETROL FUMES EXPLODE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 21 February 1935, Page 7

PETROL FUMES EXPLODE

PUMPING STATION WRECKED

THREE OF STAFF INJURED

ONE HAS AIIRACULOUS ESCAPE

(By Telegraph—Tress Association.) AUCKLAND. Feb. 20.

Fumes from petrol which had found its way into the Freeman’s Bay sewerage system were responsible for two loud explosions at the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board’s pumping station in F'anslniwe Street this afternoon. The interior of the station was wrecked and three members of the staff who were on- duty received injuries.

One of them, Roderick AlcLcod, an electrician, who was working in the pumping chamber at the bottom of a manhole -10 feet below the floor of the station, had a miraculous escape, and it was only his coolness and judgment that saved him from almost certain death.

The fumes of benzine had been noticed about the station for some days and members of the staff were warned against taking any unnecessary risks. It was believed the benzine was entering the sewer system somewhere on the Freeman’s Bay reclamation, and careful investigations were being made to locate the cause.

Alessrs F. Wilson, the Drainage Board’s foreman, ancl Owen Wilson, second assistant at the station, were in the control room at the street level this afternoon and Air. AlcLcod was at the bottom of the pumping room shaft, when the accumulated gases exploded with a terrific roar. This was followed almost immediately by a second explosion. The first explosion closed the door of the control room, trapping Alessrs. Owen and F. AVil-son, both of whom were badly burned and received a severe shock. The second explosion, however, blew the door out and they were able to escape.

GASES FEED FLAAIES

The room was now burning fiercely, the flames being fed by the gases ascending from the sewerage tank shaft alongside the pumping room shaft. An engine from the city fire station responded to an immediate caU and the fire was quickly suppressed, mainly bv the use ol a chemical extinguisher.

Alennwhile, Mr. AleLeocl had been alarmed ov the terrific explosion above and almost immediately gases which had found their way into the pumping shaft exploded, filling life pumping room with scorching flames and heaving overpowering fumes behind. Afr. McLeod crouched low, seeking any air that might be left, and covered his head with his singlet. Noticing that the cloud of white vapour left by the explosion in the shaft was slowly ascending, lie started to climb cautiously behind it. and. almost ten minutes after the fiist explosion. he emerged through the trap door in the floor of the control room, to the amazement of firemen and others who had been trying to locate him in the sewerage shaft.

The three men were taken to the Auckland Hospital. It was found that Mr. Owen "Wilson was badly burned about the head and arms, and his condii ion is serious. He is a single man living at One Tree Hill. Mr. F'. Wil son, who is married, was suffering from burns about the face and arms, but after treatment Avas able to return to the pumping station. Mr. McLeod, also a married man. Avas suffering mainly from shock, his only burns being to the hands a s the result of grasping an exposed electric wire Avlien he was climbing out- of the shaft. Ho Avas also able to leave ibe hospital after treatment.