FACTORY ON FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21755, 21 March 1934, Page 12

FACTORY ON FIRE

EMPLOYEES' RAPID EXIT FLAMES SPREAD TO BITUMEN 9 , MOUNT EDEN BUILDING GUTTED Through a vat of weed-killing preparation boiling over and catching fire, a, building in the yard of the Mount Eden railway station, occupied by Road Supplies, Limited, was gutted and machinery damaged about 2.30 yesterday afternoon.

The building was of corrugated iron on a wooden framework, and was used for the preparation of emulsified bitumen. The weed-killer, which is a byproduct, was being heated in a small vat over a gas flame, instead of by steam, as is the case with larger quantities of material. The burning preparation spread rapidly over the wooden floor and in a few minutes the whole building was alight. The employees had barely time to escape, and lost all their personal property, including some clothing. The fire was attended by one machine from the Mount Eden brigade and two from the central brigade, the inflammable nature of the contents and the cramped interior of the factory, which contained some bulky machinery, making the task of the firemen difficult. Littlo could be done to stem the flames in the main part of the building, and attention was first directed to saving the boiler house, which was little damaged. The presence of chemicals which, if heated sufficiently, might have exploded, caused some danger, but the fire was controlled before these wero affected.

Largo crowds we,re attracted by the clouds of dense black smoke which were given off by the burning bitumen. The building, which was owned by J. J. Craig, Limited, was insured in the London and Lancashire Office for £3OO, and the plant and stock in the New Zealand Office for £IOOO. TWO BUILDINGS BURNED FOOT OF PARNELL RISE TRUCK AND CAR SAVED Fanned by a strong wind, an outbreak of fire which was first seen in some dry grass behind one of the premises spread with extraordinary rapidity tlnvuigh two buildings of wood and iron at tlio foot of Pamell Rise shortly before 3.30 p.m. yesterday. The principal building affected was a two-storeyed structure used as a garage and office by the Rotorua Motor Transport Company. Portions of the interior and the facado were extensively burned, while the adjacent singlestoreyed building, unoccupied, at the time of the outbreak, was gutted.

Mr. J. Fleming, local manager of the Rotorua Motor Transport Company, noticed a strong smell of burning, and saw that grass and rubbish in the adjacent yard were burning. He immediately gave the alarm, and the Parnell and city brigades arrived within a few minutes.

Mr. Fleming and his staff were able to save a large truck and a sedan car which wero parked in tho garage, and to remove a considerable quantity of goods waiting transport, but a trailer and a small quantity of goods had to be left in tho building. By the time the brigades arrived the flames had a very strong hold of the buildings, but within about half an hour the outbreak was under control. The fire assumed fairly spectacular proportions at one stage, and a large crowd congregated. Traffic difficulties were increased by tho fact that the smoke blown across Parnell Rise by the wind made it necessary for trams motor-cars to wait for a time beforjJ "running: the gauntlet."

No details of insurances were available last evening. A grass fire had occurred earlier in the day on the side of the railway line 100 yards away, but this was not connected with the later outbreak. FARMHOUSE AT BROADWOOD FAMILY AWAY FROM HOME [JIT TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] KOHUKOHU. Tuesday A seven-roomed house, belonging to Mr. John Re Andred, a pioneer farmer of Broadwood, situated near the Awaroa Bridge, on the Broadwood-Herekino Road, was destroyed by lire at mid-day to-day. Tho family were all away from the house and the fire was first noticed by Mr. Norman Gurr, who at a distance saw tho flames at 12.45 p.m. However, he was unable to reach the scene till 2.20 p.m., by which time tho house was reduced to ashes. Mr. Gurr immediately informed the Kaitaia police. It is not known how tho fire originated. The building was insured for £450 in tho State Fire Office, but there was no insurance on tho furniture, so Air. Re Andred will bo a heavy loser. The nearest neighbour resides over half a mile away. OUTBREAK AT TE PUKE STORES BURNED DOWN [IVY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT! TE PUKE. Tuesday The Town and Country Stores' old wooden building, in the main street, adjacent to tho Capitol Theatre, was destroyed by firo about three o'clock this morning. Mr. W. Broughton. who resides in a small house at tho back, first noticed tho outbreak, which occurred at tho back of tho building, gavo the alarm, and within three minutes the brigade was at the sceno. Tho shop adjoining also caught firo, but tho prompt use of extra leads extiiigushed the flames. It is understood that the contents of the store were insured for £SOO with tho Standard Company. The owners are heavy losers. The prompt action of tho brigade saved other adjoining buildings.

SWAMP AREA SWEPT DENSE SMOKE OYER HAMILTON [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] HAMILTON, Tuesday An extensive area of scrub on tho Taupiri Swamp, between Ruakura and Eureka, is burning fiercely, and, fanned by a light easterly breeze, the fire has swept over many miles of country. The glare illuminated the eastern sky this'evening and was visible for several miles. Thick clouds of smoke drifted over Hamilton, and affected visibility. No diimago is reported.