FLAMES STILL RAGING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 732, 3 August 1929, Page 11

FLAMES STILL RAGING

MORE EXPLOSIONS FEARED IN CHRISTCHURCH MEN IN CONSTANT PERIL Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The petrol fire at Brown and Coi's oil store was still blazing fiercely at 11.30 p.m. Firemen are busy playing water on the burning mass. They have little hope of extinguishing the flames before all the petrol has been burned. At the bottom of the pile there are a number of large drums of motor spirit, which must almost inevitably explode sooner or later. The aim of the firemen is to keep the temperature of the mass as low as possible, in order to delay the explosion, in the hope that when the drums ignite there will be as little as possible of the burning petrol remaining. The risk of serious danger has not yet passed. No one has been badly hurt yet, but the firemen hourly run serious risks. Steps have been taken by the City Council’s chief inspector of dangerous goods to seize all petrol stored outside the main building. This was in pursuance of the authority conferred on the City Council by the Dangerous Goods Act in cases where the quantity stored is in excess of that permitted.

ANOTHER ATTEMPT FAILS

FIRE IN GARAGE STORE CENTRE OF CITY MENACED Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. Only fortunate circumstances thwarted an incendlarist in his attempt ta burn down the garage of Adams, Ltd., in High Street, Christchurch, on Thursday night, when the big oil fire had just broken out. Had the attempt succeeded, the whole centre of the city would have been in danger. An iron grating over the door of the strong room at the rear of the premises was wrenched off and a quantity of blazing paper thrown in, but fortunately the petrol stored there escaped the flames. Had there been any oil on the floor it certainly would have been ignited, and the resulting blaze would have been dangerous. The attempt was not discovered until the garage was opened yesterday morning.

COMMISSIONER IN CHARGE

WILL MAKE INVESTIGATION Press Association CHRISTCHURCI-I, Today. Mr. W. B. Mellveney, Commissioner of Police, arrived in Christchurch this morning. It is his intention to make a personal investigation regarding the incendiary fires, and to make special arrangements for police protection. 200 SPECIAL POLICE Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. As a result of the incendiarism, it has been suggested that the City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and the Progress League should co-operate in the formation of a vigilance committee to assist the police authorities. Another suggestion made is that 200 special constables should be sworn in to assist in patrolling the city and suburbs.