MIRAMAR BLAZE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13284, 16 June 1936, Page 5

MIRAMAR BLAZE.

SECOND EDI 14ON

GASOMETER SIDES SCORCHED. ANXIOUS TIME FOR RESIDENTS Electric Telegraph—Priss Ass C <nation WELLINGTON. 1-ast Night. A half-hour of thrills and some anxiety for residents of Miramar living in the vicinity oi the gasworks was provided last night by a fir* which seriously damaged a coi i ere t-block-making factory situated iii the shadow oi a gasometer 20 feet away. At the height of tlie outbreak the flames were driven by a southerly breeze close to the side of the container and, according to spectators who could see by tk3 light of the fire, blistered the paint on its/ iron walls over an area of many square yards. Tlie fire occurred in the factory of the W in get Block Company. We x lord Road, and was first noticed about 8.45, when smoke was seen issuing from several parts oi the building, an old rambling one ol corrugated iron on wood frames. A resident. Mr J. CSfeumock, whoso property uoas the main entrance to the factory, telephoned the alarm to the Central Eire Brigade .Station, vl-ich dispatched machine- from the Miramar and Constable Street stations. Engines from .these points were promptly on the scene, and men were also sent from the city station. When the firemen arrived fi. iaoa were bursting through the roof of a storehouse which forms an upper story to the main factory . Dense clouds of smoke poured from the building and enveloped the gasometer. against the of which flame and sparks were being blown. The fire eould be seen all oves the district and attracted a crowd uf many hundreds, many ot the im.ro timorous being satisfied to watch from a distance tliiocgL distrust of the gasometer which at tunes itself appeared to be on fire.

The firemen the outbreak under control within a lew minutes. but not before the spectators ban had their thrills and seme their apprehension. For some time after the flames had l#een subdued a hose was used on the gasometer to extinguish sparks juk! brands which continued to strike its plate* under the influence of the wind. After giving the alarm, Air Chinnock, accompanied by the foiemai of the factory. Air D. Seays brook, entered the building to secure a 15gailou drum of benzine for use in an engine which supplies power loi the machinery. 'I hey succeeded in roil in it clear, but with little time to spare before the flames reached the part gf tlie promises where it was stored. It was stated bv officials ,f the Wellington G«s C mu&ny that “i----though the sight of flames in < lose by 1 - appear alarming. there wa- never any real danger of the container catching fire or exploding jk n.anv people seemed to icar. The st.uci withstanding the test ot flame.