BLAZE AT INVERCARGILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26078, 15 February 1946, Page 4

BLAZE AT INVERCARGILL

BUILDING AND PLANT DESTROYED (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Feb. 14. An outbreak of fire at Invercargill last night destroyed the building and plant of Wilson Bros., engineers and ironfounders, in Leet street. Fanned by a strong westerly wind, the fire quickly swept through the building, and when the brigade arrived soon after receiving the alarm at 10.24 almost the whole roofing was ablaze. The brigade had little chance of saving the building, but did good work in preventing the spread of the fire to the adjoining properties. The total resources of the Invercargill Brigade were used to combat the outbreak. The regular staff of 20 men and 13 auxiliary members was supplemented by the emergency fire-fighting service. The fir.e appeared to begin in the front of the building, and burned so fiercely that it had a good hold over the whole structure when the brigade arrived. Gas from the acetylene welding plant accumulated on the top floor of the building, and presented an early difficulty for the brigade, and later this burning gas was ventilated by wind which entered when the asbestos roofing collapsed in a series of explosions. The origin of the outbreak is not known, and an estimate of the damage is not yet available. . The building was insured for £4OOO and the machinery and stock and plant, etc., for another £4BOO. It is possible that a good deal of the plant may be salvaged.