EXTENSIVE DAMAGE
POWER BOARD STATION.
FIRE FOLLOWS AN EXPLOSION.
(Per United Press Association.) Masterton, December 29.
Extensive damage was done at the Wairarapa Electric Power Board s station at Kourarau on Monday morning by a fire, following an explosion, when an underground cable was struck by lightning. An insulation was damaged and a short circuit occurred which set fire to all the underground cables. When the full load was put on the short circuit travelled back to the control panels fusing the controls and setting fire to instruments, transformers and switchboard controls.
On hearing the explosion the engineer in charge rushed into the station, which he found a mass of flames. He was hampered by the dense, black sulphurous smoke from burning copper and bitumen. Until this cleared, in about five to 10 minutes, it was almost impossibly to do anything. The engineer, by the aid of extinguishers, eventually mastered the flames, but not before considerable damage had been done. Repairs have now been effected.
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Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 22210, 30 December 1933, Page 6
Word Count
165EXTENSIVE DAMAGE Southland Times, Issue 22210, 30 December 1933, Page 6
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