OIL STORE FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1924, Page 4

OIL STORE FIRES.

DANGER TO OTHER BUILDINGS. POSITION IN NEW PLYMOUTH. The grave danger attending properties in Buller Street in the vicinity of the oil stores should one of the stores o&tah fire was the subject of strong comment at the meeting of the New Plymouth •Fire Board last night. “In the case of the oil in the store catching fire the brigade would have no chance of extinguishing it with water, while if the roof of the oil store should burn through and collapse it would be impossible to save the adjacent dwellings if the fire was carried by the wind in their direction,” said the brigade superintendent ('Mr. A. Boon) in his quarterly report. ’lnhere was no water main in Buller Street west of Eliot Street from which the brigade could attempt to save the dwellings, the report added. Should any of the oil stores carrying full stocks catch fire, all the brigade iqknfld do would be to stand by to endeavour to protect adjoining property. There were a number of chemical fire extinguishers being made and advertised in Englfelh and American papers to deal with oil fires, but inquiries had revealed that none had been introduced into New Zealand] Th'e chairman (Mr. <F. E. Wilson) moved that the attention of the New Plymouth Borough Council be drawn to the position. While the inspector of explosives had given a permit for the erection and use of the stores, Mr. Wilson said, there was a very grave risk in having the stores in a congested part of the town. He had been informed that the flames would travel through the smoke, an instance being mentioned to him where the flame had travelled 150 feet away from the seat of the fire. Replying to a question, the superintendent said that if a store caught tire the only thing the brigade could do would be to let it burn itself out. Mr. Wilson drew attention to recent oil store fires in Napier, Wellington and Invercargill, where the fires had taken some days to burn out. It was not beyond the bounds of possibility that a similar fire might occur in New Plymouth.

Members of the board were in agreement concerning the gravity of the situ-x ation, and the motion moved by the chairman was carried unanimously. The superintendent was also instructed to make inquiries concerning plant for fighting oil fires, Mr. Wilson remarking that if suitable plant could be procured, the board would probably add it to the equipment of the brigade