BENZINE BLAZE
SUDDEN FLARE IN BOOT FACTORY I . .» TWO EMPLOYEES SUFFER BURNS (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 20. Two employees suffered burns and damage estimated at from £SO to £IOO was done when a sudden flare-up of benzine Occurred about 11.30 this morning in a boot and shoe factory owned by Messrs Bridgens and Co., Ltd., on the new North road. The injured are Florence Dawson, aged 16, of New Lynn, who suffered severe arm and hand burns and was taken to hospital, and Charles Bridgens, aged 27, who was slightly burned on one arm, and was given first aid treatment.
The factory was in full swing at the time, and 260 employees were in the building, many of them girls and young women. Miss Dawson was working at a bench in a corner of the factory finishing off shoes, using a cloth dipped in benzine, while near her was a tin containing a small quantity of benzine. Further along the bench was a gas flare with a shield round it. Miss Dawson moved along the bench, and when dlose to the gas jet the cloth ignited. The flames caught the rubber glove she was wearing, and before it could be pulled off her arm and hand were badly burned Bridgens was injured while assisting Miss Dawson.
The fire spread to the paper wrappings, but the flames were extinguished with a hose.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 23044, 21 November 1936, Page 9
Word Count
233BENZINE BLAZE Otago Daily Times, Issue 23044, 21 November 1936, Page 9
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