BALES OF STRAW DESTROYED

Southland Times, Issue 24179, 16 July 1940, Page 6

BALES OF STRAW DESTROYED

BLAZE IN STORAGE SHED (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 15. Several hundred bales of straw were destroyed or damaged by a fire which broke out in the storage shed of Ernest and Herbert Craig, Limited, wood, coal and general merchants in Parnell road shortly before one o’clock this afternoon. The shed itself, which is an old, corrugated iron structure, with a wooden framework, was slightly damaged. In spite of the difficulty caused by heavy clouds of acrid smoke from the burning straw the fire was confined to one building. Both sides of the building were packed almost to the roof with straw, while four motorlorries, a horse dray, several dozen bags of salt, heaps of sacks and machinery were also stored within reach of the flames. Small heaps of firewood stored against the sides of the building were also endangered, as were the sleepers of the railway line which crosses the building at one end. Hindered by the fact that the fire was burning beneath 14 feet of straw along most of the length of the building, the firemen were fully occupied for more than two hours in reaching the seat of the fire. Early in the afternoon gas masks had to be used and the men who were not so equipped had frequently to be relieved inside the building. Three hours after the outbreak was first noticed two leads of hose were still being played on the smouldering straw, which had not been completely extinguished. The building was insured with the South British Insurance Company for £BOO. The firm had no insurances on its stocks and no details were available of the insurance on the goods stored for other owners.