ANOTHER WOOL FIRE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10727, 26 June 1906, Page 2

ANOTHER WOOL FIRE.

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph. — Copyright) LONDON, June 25. Spontaneous combustion of wool caused a tM-o hours' fire in the Rimutaka's No. 6 hold, at London.

Fires from spontaneous combustion in wool cargoes are generally due to {he wool being packed in a damp condition. Such outbreaks occur usually in the lower layeis of the cargo, the fire finding its way along the corners of the bales up the hold. Such fires ore remarkable for very little flame, but give out an intense heat. The wool, iwj «. matter of fact, docs not bum rapidly, but rather smoulders and liquefies into a blaok. oily mass. The point of origin is invariably found to be the centre of the bale, and while the outer portions of the bales thnt afterwards be. come ignited are damaged, the centres remain intact, ine danger of spontaneous combustion ni goods packed in bales, sucli as thosß in which greasy and scoured wool is packed, has been found by experience to be greater in skin and glue pieces. Much difficulty is experienced Hi getting these two articles absolutely dry. The difficulty is a big one for the ships' agents, because the package is perfectly clean until it is subjected to pressure of the other curgo. The liability of spontaneous combustion in wool is greater with "sliped" wool. This class of wool is, nt best, only half washed, and under such conditions is more liable to retain moisture than fellmongered wools, which ore invariably scoured. ■