Wellsford Sensation: Ten Cars Destroyed by Fire and Explosion

Northern Advocate, 12 July 1939, Page 8

Wellsford Sensation: Ten Cars Destroyed by Fire and Explosion

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] WELLSFORD, This Day. rr»EN MOTOR CARS WERE DESTROYED AND DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT FROM £4OOO TO £SOOO WAS CAUSED BY A FIRE WHICH DESTROYED A GARAGE OWNED BY MR C. M. GORDON, AT WELLSFORD, LAST NIGHT.

A bucket brigade fought the fire for over an hour, and was successful in preventing it from spreading further.

Fortunately, there was no wind, and this aided the bucket brigade ■considerably in confining the serious damage to the garage.

Violent Explosion

There was no one on the premises when the fire broke out, and the first sign of the outbreak was when a three-foot oxygen cylinder exploded. The cylinder shot across from the garage and struck the window sill of a neighbouring chemist’s shop, shattering the frame. The vibration from the-; explosion was felt three miles away at Te Hana, and a number of windows further down the street were shattered, including three plate-glass windows. At 9.20 p.m., a large drum containing oil flared up, the flames being 100 feet high and creating a glare which could be seen from Auckland. Petrol Tank Menace. Fears were entertained at one stage that three underground tanks of petrol would explode. The chemist’s shop next door, owned by Mr A. R. Gorbey, and Mr Gordon’s residence, behind the garage, were saved after strenuous efforts. Mr Gordon was absent from Wellsford when the fire broke out, but he returned at 10.30, by which time the flames were under control.