FIRE AT OTAHUHU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19612, 14 April 1927, Page 14

FIRE AT OTAHUHU.

IGNITION OF BENZINE. THREE LORRIES DAMAGED. MAN'S FACE BADLY BURNED. Three large motor-lorries wore badly damaged by fire in the yard of Mr. Bert Jenkins, carrier and coal merchant of Great South Road, Otahuhu, shortly after seven o'clock last evening. Mr. Fred Robertson was filling up the tank of a lorry which had just been used and was heated. The benzine was ignited by the heat and burst into.flames, setting fire to the body of the lorry and burning Mr. Robertson badly about the face. The three vehicles were ranged together in a shed and the flames soon enveloped them and attacked the building. One lorry was run out of the shed and had only the body and tyres charred. The whole of the woodwork of the other two was badly damaged and the tyres burned off. All three will have to be completely reconditioned.

The shed and its contents were extensively damaged. A heap of tyres were destroyed. The burning rubber emitted powerful fumes and one fireman was temporarily overcome. The Otahuhu Fire Brigade soon extinguished the fire with the chemical apparatus and prevented its threatened spread to adjoining buildings.

The shed was insured for £350 in the South British office. The insurances on the trucks total £950 iu the New Zealand office.