FUSING OF CABLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23017, 20 April 1938, Page 10

FUSING OF CABLES

UNDERGROUND SYSTEM EXPLOSIONS FOLLOW FIRE LITTLE DAMAGE CAUSED A series of explosions which followed an outbreak of fire caused through the fusing of underground electric cables near the junction of Great South Road and Manukau lload startled shopkeepers and bystanders shortly after eight o'clock yesterday morning. Apart from the fusing of high-tension wires leading from the ground up a power pole and the cracking of a plate-glass window in a neighbouring shop, little damage was done. Smoke coming from the footpath was pointed out to Mr. J. W. Rewcastle, confectioner and tobacconist, by a customer, and the Parnell and Remuera fire brigades were summoned. Twenty minutes after the fire broke out, a loud explosion occurred and minor reports followed for several minutes. The heat of the flames melted the bitumen in the footpath, fused the metal casing which housed the high-tension wires, and charred the power pole to a height of 10ft. from the ground. After the power had been cut off, the firemen were able to put out the fire with chemical extinguishers. The caused of the outbreak was ascribed by Mr. R. H. Bartley, general manager of the Auckland ElectricPower Board, to a cable fault which had developed in the underground conduit housing the power wires. He said the steel conduit had been shifted several days ago and apparently the cable had been damaged, causing- a fault which had resulted in the fusing of the wires. ' ' -