SENSATIONAL FIRE

Southland Times, Issue 18968, 15 June 1923, Page 10

SENSATIONAL FIRE

GREAT BLAZE IN SYDNEY. FIRE BRIGADE POWERLESS.

One of the most sensational and destructive fires Sydney has yet seen occurred last week when the Sandown Freezing Works, Granville, were burned to the ground. The buildings destroyed occupied about five acres, and were set in a cross in the centre of pretty gardens. Altogether about 14 acres were used by the works. The floor space was nine acres. One side of the buildings comprised six floors, while on the other side there were five floors, with offices in the front portion. Approximately the damage was £250,000. Over 70 insurance companies are concerned. The recklessness oi the lire lighters was one of the most exciting features of the spectacle. The Burwood Fire Brigade, tearing to the scene, lout a nut .rom beneuth the steering wheel of the motor wh'le the engine was in Paramatta road, Auburn. The heavy engine was uncontrollable and crashed with terrific force into a post. The station officer, John Mills, was hurled from his seat, but his injuries were not serious. A headquarters engine picked up the stranded crew and took them to the blaze. Appliances from headquarters, Burwood, Stanmore, Granville, Parramatta and Homebush ran out lines of hoses. But the firemen had to fight a losing battle from the beginning. The water supply was practically useless. Dispatches were issued for two floats and they were promised, but never arrived. Huge walls toppled and fell with a terrific boom and showered firemen with sparks. The engine works and four floors of offices were saved from total destruction. Hundreds of carcases were consumed by the flames, and the sight the following morning was tragic. Ugly skeletons of walls jutted abruptly .arcs, the sky. Heaps of distorted iron, m ashed glass and charred rubbish lay crywhere. Flames were still issuing from the ruined •.Hidings, and a number of firemen still : ;el«l the fire in check. Only about fifty men had been employed | ( the works, but it is understood that in a ■ >w weeks the company intended to increase he number of their employees considerably. Mr James Farrell, general manager, j gave great praise to the daring of the fire I men, many of whom had miraculous escapes. He and some firemen had narrow escapes when four huge tallow digesters, weighing several tons each, fell 20 foot, and i also when a wall collapsed. “It was heart-breaking,” said the chief : officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (Mr Jackson), when discussing the shortage of' water. “Wo were absolutely helpless,” he added. “I have never before been in such a bad position,” “All we could do was to get two small streams of water to work instead of operating with 12 or 14 powerful hoses. “The mains,” continued Mr Jackson, “were only for domestic purposes. Our attentions were directed to saving the engine room and the ammonia tanks; and we were lucky in achieving even that. If the ammonia had gone I don't know what would have happened.”