WORKERS SUFFER INJURIES

Southland Times, Issue 23390, 23 December 1937, Page 7

WORKERS SUFFER INJURIES

FURNITURE FACTORY CATCHES FIRE MEMBER OF STAFF SHOWS HEROISM (Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, December 20. Caused by a pile of upholsterers’ flax bursting into flame, an outbreak of fire at the furniture factory of the Farmers’ Trading Company in Mount Eden road this morning destroyed one of the buildings and considerably damaged some machinery. The extent of the financial loss to the company will not be known until tomorrow, but it is thought that several thousands of pounds worth of damage was done. The whole factory and its contents are insured with the South British Insurance Company for £19,000, The outbreak was accompanied by a display of heroism by a member of the staff, Alfred Broadhead, single, aged 24, who was severely burned after disregarding his personal safety in order to telephone the alarm to the Central fire station. Another member of the staff, Mrs /arsons, also showed considerable courage in assisting other members and going to the help of Broadhead. About 10 men and boys were employed in the portion of the building which was destroyed. They were working alongside the pile of upholsterers’ flax when at about 9.25 a.m. it burst into flame and spread to other parts of the building more rapidly than the flax could be dragged away from the danger points. After attempting to prevent the spread of the flames for some time, the workmen were forced to look to their own safety and abandon the building. FIRE BRIGADE WARNED In the meantime Broadhead had run co a telephone to warn the fire brigade. He put his call through, but when he turned to make his escape he found his way blocked by a wall of flame. He tried to run through the flame and had almost reached safety when he vollapsed in a doorway. He tried to roll out, but his rescue was really made by Mrs Parsons, who dragged him on to the street. Broadhead was taken to the Auckland Hospital and was reported to be suffering severely from Burns about the back and from shock, although his condition was not regarded as serious. Several other workmen had to be treated at the factory for minor burns suffered in their attempts to hold the fire in check. Mrs Parsons and another female employee were working in a room behind the upholsterers’ department, which was in the upstairs portion of the building. They heard cries and Mrs Parsons, thinking one of the men had been injured, opened the communicating door. She was confronted by the flames and immediately turned and ordered the other girl out. Later this girl said that had it not been for Mrs Parsons keeping cool and assisting her she would not have been able to win through to safety. Engines from the Central and Mount Eden stations answered the call, but so rapidly did the flames spread that when they arrived within a few minutes of receiving the call the floor was ablaze from end to end. The fire was also threatening the rear building, in which more valuable plant is contained, and the firemen had to attack the burning part from both front and rear. They quickly go it under control and saved the main building. It was stated later that the original .outbreak was believed to be due to spontaneous combustion. Although the factory has been particularly busy fulfilling Christmas orders and although the fire destroyed the upholsterers’ department and the cabinet making and assembly room, the company does not expect to be much inconvenienced by the outbreak. The assistant general manager (Mr W. Calder Mackey) stated that most of the Christmas work had been completed and the remainder would be attended to in the main building. The workmen employed would- not lose any work. Mr Mackey also expressed appreciation of the work of the firemen. They had made a remarkably good save in preventing the spread of the flames to file rear building.