GAS CATCHES ALIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20556, 6 May 1930, Page 10

GAS CATCHES ALIGHT.

RAILWAY STATION FIRE,

BLAZE AMONG CONTAINERS.

FLAMES LAST FOR THREE HOURS. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON. Monday. Shortly after eight o'clock this morning a burst of flame occurred in the gas house at Lambton railway station, and in a moment the whole building was in flames. Although the fire was not extinguished for three hours, the material damage was not great. The gas house is operated by the Railway Department for' the manufacture of gas for the illumination of carriages, and the process involves the mixture of carbon monoxide obtained from coke, and a richer gas manufactured from oil. There are six containers, each holding about 2500 cubic feet of gas under pressure. The holders were all practically full. One of the men was standing near the containers when a blast of flame appeared to rush into the building from the outside. Possibly, he said, the flams did not coine from the outside, but that was his impression. Immediately the whole place was filled with flame. Ho rushed for the door and was outside in a moment or two, but his clothing was alight and his bands and face were singed. The other men on duty were in another part of the building and they got outside safely.

A great column of black oily smoke shot up to a great height and a few minutes later the flames had burned out the side of the building and were shooting up through the roof. The fire brigade quickly had two leads at high pressure on to tho blaze, making it necessary to alter tho platform arrangements for tho incoming trains. It was obvious from tho start that water was not going to make much impression on tho burning gas, and tho brigade confined itself to holding the fire to the containers and to keeping the gasholders cool. As the pressure dropped, the flames gradually lost their fierceness, but the fire was not extinguished until 11 o'clock.

As far as material damage is concerned, the blaze was not serious, for no great damage was done to the gas house, and the containers are capable of fairly quick repair. Until the gas house is in working .order again, however, it will be difficult to supply carriages with gas, for it was necessary to keep the plant going at full pressure in order to meet requirements.