FIRE AT THE OILFIELDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1917, Page 2

FIRE AT THE OILFIELDS.

NO. 2 DERRICK GUTTED. The derrick and engine house at the JNo. i bore of the Taranaki Oil Company were completely gutted yesterday morning at 0.30. For some considerable time the bore has been idle, but about a fori* night ago cleaning operations were commenced, preparatory to recommencing boring operations, and from time to time there have been rushes of gas from the bore. A phenomenal burst occurred yesterday morning, and the heavy gas was forced to a considerable heigh!; in the derrick, and gravitating, spread out over the ground. Between the engine.room, Which adjoins the derrick, and the boiler house there is a clear passage of 12 feet, and the distanco is not less than 60 feet. A slight breeze carried the highly inflammable gas to the boiler house, and a sharp explosion followed, the sheet of flame jumping across to the derrick house. There was no indication that an explosion was about to occur, and the workmen were lucky to get out of the engine-room without injury, though their coats, kits and belongings were destroyed, The fire brigade Was immediately notified by telephone, and arrived on the scene promptly with their big engine, but the fire had so great a hold that there was little chance of saving the derrick. The structure, thoroughly saturated with oil, was ablaze from top to bottom in ajiout six minutes, and the fire was helped still more by a second rush of gas, which was forced to a great height in the derrick house. The brigade's main efforts were devoted to buildings round the blazing .tower, and but for their timely arrival it is probable that the boiler house, stores, offices and a considerable amount of oil stored in underground tanks would have been destroyed; About twenty minutes after the explosion took place the derrick collapsed, and the, brigade worked on for half an hour with two leads before the blazing heap and the gas spouting' from the bore were extinguished. Apart from the destruction of the derrick itself, no great damage was done as the engine and valuable tools escaped the fiercest heat of the fire., Throughout the day small rushes of gas occurred, proving that the bore itself was not seriously damaged. •

The buildings and machinery were well covered in the Norwich Union Insurance Company.