Garage and Ten Cars Destroyed

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 162, 12 July 1939, Page 4

Garage and Ten Cars Destroyed

SPECTACULAR TIRE AT WELLSFORD Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 11. Damage estimated at from £4OOO to £SOOO was caused by a fire which btokc out iu a garage owned by Mr. C. M. Gordon at Wellsford shortly alter h o’clock to-night, totally destroying the garage and 10 motor-cars parked inside it and scorching two houses on adjacent properties. For over an hour a bucket brigade fought the lire and were successful in preventing it from spreading further. By half past ton the tiro was well under control. There was no wind—a factor which, in the absence of a lire brigade, was instrumental iu confining serious damage to the garage. At, the time of the outbreak there was no ouc iu attendance at the garage and the first evidence of the fire was the explosion ot an Oxj-gen cylinder which shot across from tho garage and struck tho window sill of a neighbouring chemist’s shop, shattering the frame. Tho vibration* from tho explosion was felt miles away at To Hana and several windows further down tho street were shattered.

The fire spready quickly aud at 9.20 a large drum containing oil for Diesel engines flared up, the flames being 100 feet high and creating a glare which could bo seen in Auckland. There was a fear that three underground tanks of petrol would catch lire.

►Strenuous efforts were made to save a chemist’s shop next door, owned by Mr. A. R. Gorbey, and Mr. Gordon’s residence behind the garage. Water was obtained from tanks at Gorbey’s shop aud goods aud furniture from the endangered buildings were strewn along the road for 100 yards. At the time of the lire Mr. Gordon was away from Wellsford, but be roturued at about 10.30, at which time tho flames were under control.