ENVELOPED IN FLAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21068, 30 December 1931, Page 8

ENVELOPED IN FLAMES.

THREE CHILDREN INJURED. EXPLOSION DURING BONFIRE. SINGULAR WAIPU ACCIDENT. [by telegbaph.—own correspondent.] WH ANO A 1!E I, Tuesday. Three children received burns iri remarkable circumstances at *\Vaipu, south of Whangarei, yesterday afternoon. Ihe children, aged nine, seven and five years respectively, were burning some rubbish in the yard of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Webb, of Millbrook, when the accident occurred. • Included in the rubbish was some paper which was discovered under the washhouse floor. As soon as this paper ignited it started to splutter like fuse arid one of the, children pulled it from the fire. It, suddenly flared up arid exploded and enveloped the children in flame. The eyebrows of the three children were burned off aid the hair was burned from their foreheads. The elder boy, Edwin, was also severely burned about both forearms. The others received minor burns. After receiving medical attention Edwin was taken to the Whangarei Hospital, his condition to-night being reported as satisfactory. It is considered a miracle that the children were not blinded. Investigations made by Mr. Webb lead him to the opinion thai, a half-plug of compressed powder, which was inclined to be damp, had been wrapped in the. paper. This, in his opinion, had been placed under the floor prior to his taking possession of the, property two years ago.