LOSS OF STORES BY FIRE

Southland Times, Issue 25618, 10 March 1945, Page 7

LOSS OF STORES BY FIRE

Evidence At Inquiry

ORDNANCE DEPOT ON SHOWGROUNDS

(P.A.) PALMERSTON NORTH, Mar. 9. The Coroner’s inquiry into the fire at the Showgrounds camp on the night of December 31, when a’huge quantity of Army stores was destroyed, was opened today, Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., presiding. Detective F. Quin conducted proceedings on behalf of the police and Mr R. H. Cooper appeared for the Army Department. Mr J. P. Innes watched proceedings on behalf of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, owners of the buildings. Outlining the evidence to be called, Detective Quin said this was intended to show that, on the evening of December 31, a small fire was discovered in the cookhouse next to ,the Army ordnance store. This was put out. About an hour later a major fire broke out in the ordnance store. This eventually destroyed the store and the administration building next door. Captain F. L. McKenzie, administrative officer, said that standing orders were issued for the camp regarding security precautions. In conjunction with these were also orders for the guard, who were responsible for patrolling the camp to keep watch for fire and prevent unauthorized interference with property. These orders were effective at the time of the fire. During the holiday period a special set of orders was issued because of the number of men on leave. The usual patrols, it was emphasized, had •to be maintained and every precaution taken against fire risk. The orders covered the entire camp, but referred only to the outside of the ordnance stores. The administration inside the store was the responsibility of the ordnance officer. Full patrols had to be maintained. In reply to the Coroner, the witness said that the patrol of the cookhouse was one of the responsibilities of the guard. FIRE EQUIPMENT Captain W. S. Keegan, officer commanding the ordnance depot, gave evidence that two nightwatchmen were maintained in the ordnance store, one being on duty at a time. The fire equipment in the store consisted of buckets, bucket pumps, hoses and extinguishers. In the store were tools, spare parts and expended stores. The other part of the area (No. 3) consisted of camp fittings, crockery, etc. In Area No. 4 were practically every type of Army stores required. All of this was under his command, and the assessing of the loss of stores was his responsibility, also the amount of salvage. He had not yet arrived at the final figures, but expected to have them in a week or two. He was not in the camp on the night of the fire, being on leave.

In reply to Mr Cooper, the witness detailed the nightwatclimen’s hours and duties. A register was kept recording the times of inspection and any unusual occurrences. The register which was in use at the time was destroyed in the fire. In addition to routine orders, the non-commissioned officer on duty kept a check on the nightwatchman. The latter was on duty in the store, which was kept locked. To obtain admission the officer on duty had to ring a bell. He could not get in if the nightwatchman was not there. The stores were stacked. Inflammable goods generally were in heaps, so as to form fire breaks. In addition, non-inflammable goods were used to form fire breaks. This had been approved by the superintendent of the fire brigade, whose advice was always sought. Under the advice of the superintendent every possible precaution was taken against fire, and his recommendations were adopted. SMOKING PROHIBITED Captain Keegan, in reply to Mr Cooper, said there was no danger of oil soakage setting up spontaneous combustion. There was a day-by-day inspection. Smoking was absolutely prohibited. To the witness’s knowledge this was observed. To the Coroner the witness said that the installation of automatic fire alarms had not been considered. The witness thought that the building the ordnance depot occupied was in any case a temporary depot. Thus the question of automatic alarms was ruled out. Sergeant W. C. Luffman, senior n.c.o. of the showgrounds guard, said he was on duty on the evening of December. 31. About 9.30 he patrolled and saw nothing wrong. At 10.30, when he was on another patrol, he found the bottom of the copper in the men’s cookhouse red hot. A piece of wood on the wall had been ignited. The gas under the copper was alight. The wood, which was glowing, was on a corrugated iron wall and was used to hold a canopy over the coppers. The witness turned the gas off and went to the main gate, instructing Private Wagstaff to accompany him to the men’s cookhouse. They took a stirrup pump to the men’s kitchen and directed a stream of water on the burning timber. They were satisfied they had put out the fire. [Private Wagstaff filled the copper with cold water. The witness felt the iron around the site of the fire, and it was quite cold. The stirrup pump was refilled and left near the copper as a natural precaution against a repetition. The witness returned with Private Wagstaff to the guardhouse. The witness tried to communicate with the ordnance nightwatchman, but did not receive a reply on the telephone. The witness did not notify an officer in the Camp—Lieutenant Smith, who was the railway transport officer—nor the fire brigade, as he was fully satisfied that the fire was out. The witness went on another tour of inspection and got back to the main gate about 11.35. Private Wagstaff and Private Collins, the latter the ordnance nightwatchman, were there. NOISES OF NEW YEAR’S EVE

The witness said he instructed Private Collins to make a tour of the ordnance area and told him to examine the wall opposite where the fire had been. Private Collins left immediately to make an inspection. The witness went back to the kitchen. Conditions there were normal, there being no sign of fire. Satisfied that all was well, the witness went back to the guard house, reaching (here about 11.50 or 11.55. Private Collins reached there at the same time and reported that everything was correct on the ordnance side of the wall. Neither the witness, Private Wagstaff nor Private Collins had had any liquor. All three were capable of doing their duty efficiently. They waited at the guard house for about 10 minutes, waiting for the usual “noise and hullabaloo” of New Year’s Eve. At midnight the witness thought he would contribute to this by blowing the hooter at the gate. Apparently this was the only hooter or siren which went off. The witness did not hear any,others. The witness went outside the guard hut and saw a “glow in the sky near the ord--nance depot.” He was not sure if it was from the ordnance depot, but he rushed into the guard house and telephoned the fire brigade. The witness said he received no reply. There were two alarms in the camp connected with the fire station, these being of the street alarm type. They were both out of order. Private Collins and Private Wagstaff vanished from the guard room when the witness shouted “Fire.” Thinking he might have dialled the wrong number the witness dialled again, and when doing so heard the siren of the fire engine coming. One engine came at first, go-

ing to the fire, which was just beyond the cook house. The witness followed. The building beyond the cook house—an ordnance store—was well alight. Flame was breaking through the roof. This was back from the cook hpuse. The witness had no idea of the cause of the fire. He did not connect it with the previous outbreak. ' The witness had not seen or heard of any unauthorized persons in the camp. There was no tampering with the buildings, gates or fences to the witness’s knowledge. The inquiry was adjourned until March 22.