GELIGNITE IN BLAZE

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1935, Page 4

GELIGNITE IN BLAZE

NO EXPLOSION OCCURS

STRATFORD FARM HOUSE BURNS.

MANY SPECTATORS WATCH FIRE.

BRIGADE KEEPS PEOPLE AWAY.

Fire on Saturday night completely destroyed the seven-roomed house on Pembroke Road, Stratford, occupied by Mi. and Mrs. W. Green. Gelignite in a shed did not explode. Though the Stratford fire brigade responded to an alarm given by the borough ranger, Mr. H. Dixon, it could do nothing in the absence of water, the house being about a mile from the borough boundary. A small shed at the rear of the house containing two or three plugs of gelignite and several detonators caught fire and brigadesmen gave valuable service in keeping a large crowd from approaching too near the shed. The detonators did explode with the noise of a shotgun, but no harm was done as the gelignite did not. Heat makes the explosive more sensitive to vibration, but will not actually explode it. In such cases gelignite will burn.

Mr. and Mrs. Green, a niece and a youth named Ross, who helps on the farm, were living in the house, and they went to bed about 8.30 p.m. Mr. Ross awoke at 10.45 and woke up Mr. Green. They found that the kitchen ceiling was alight. It was nearly half an hour later that Mr. Dixon notified the brigade superintendent, Mr. L. B. Davis. When the brigade arrived the roof had fallen in. Nothing could be done then, but some of the furniture and a small amount of clothing were saved before the fire obtained a firm hold. The house was owned by Mrs. Green, and both it and the furniture were insured.