BENZOLINE BLAZE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 55, 5 March 1918, Page 7

BENZOLINE BLAZE.

OX. THE HXJTT ROAD

How careful people should be who have anything with volatile spirits was demonstrated a few days ago oii .the steamer Huia at Wellington, and was emphasised by an interesting discussion, at the Wellington Harbour Board's meeting on Wednesday evening last. Another illustration occurred on the Hutt Road, Wellington, says the Dor. minion, on Saturday .afternoon at about '2.30 o'clock when 120 cases, of benzoline (a volatile oi,l.used for ,gas generating for s household purposes) caught fire whilst ; being conveyed on a horse-drawn lorry 'to the Vacuum Oil Company's sheds at Kaiwarra. The cause of the fire has not been given though its origin is suspected. A call was" sent to "the fire ■ brigade, which was promptly on the scene, but as water has little, or no effort on blazing spirit the waggon-load of benzoline simply burnt itself out. The horses were got out of the lorry without injury, and the lorry itself was, strange to say, only charred, probably Owing to the cooling effect of the water that was poured on to the blazing heap. There were other lorries, similarly loaded, following on, but they managed to escape ignition. The lorry belonged to :Munt, Cottrell and Co. . • The fire brigade superintendent, Mr H. Tait, again wishes, to strongly emphasise the extreme danger which exists "in handling volatile oils under all and every condition, and emphatically insists that no driver of a vehicle containing oils should be permitted to smoke.