FIRE IN SULPHUR SHED

Southland Times, Issue 23680, 1 December 1938, Page 4

FIRE IN SULPHUR SHED

DUST IN ATMOSPHERE IGNITED (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 30. Three engines from the metropolitan area were called to deal with an outbreak of fire in a sulphur shed at the Westfield artificial fertilizer works of Kempthorne, Prosser and Company’s New Zealand Drug Co., Ltd. Several works employees suffered slight burns, but were able to resume their duties after receiving treatment. Several men were unloading a truck of rock sulphur when the outbreak started. The sulphur is shovelled into a pit below the floor level and is conveyed into the shed by means of a mechanical elevator and conveyer. It is thought that a spark ignited the sulphur dust, which, when suspended in the atmosphere, is highly inflammable.

The ignition of the impregnated atmosphere was accompanied 'by a loud explosion, and a sheet of flame shot from the elevator well and outwards towards the truck where the men were working. One of the men, whose clothing and bare shoulders were covered with sulphur dust, was in the direct line of the flame and his clothing caught fire. He threw himself to the ground and extinguished the smouldering fire by rolling among a pile of empty sacks. His shoulders were scorched in a few places. Two other men suffered burns on the arms and four workers qparby suffered from the pungent fumes sent out by the fire.

The works fire-fighting equipment was brought into operation and with the arrival of the brigades two leads and numerous chemical extinguishers were brought into play. The flames spread throughout the shed, which contained about 3000 tons of sulphur. The damage was limited to the scorching of the roof structure. The stock of sulphur did not suffer, as, when stored in bulk, this material only bums superficially.