FIRE IN A FACTORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21987, 23 June 1933, Page 10

FIRE IN A FACTORY

A FIREMAN INJURED FALL OF TWELVE FEET (Pee United Press Association.l AUCKLAND, June 22. When combating a kapok fire in a city factory a member of the city brigade, Russell Preston, fell 12 feet through the thick smoke to the concrete floor below. He was taken to the hospital in an unconscious condition, suffering from collapse, but an examination revealed no apparent signs of injury. Tile fire occurred in the premises of Ford, Richardson and Company, Ltd., manufacturers of bedding and quilts. Only one end of the building was involved, but an appreciable amount of damage was done to the kapok and quilts. The amount of stock carried is valued at about £2500, and Hie full extent of the damage which it suffered will not be known until an examination is made. Little damage was done to the building. After donning his smoke helmet Preston mounted a platform to investigate. For a time he moved about there, being enveloped all the time in dense smoke. It is not known whether he tripped or whether the smoke was too dense to enable him to see, but he suddenly fell from the platform to the floor below.