FIERCE FIRE

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVI, Issue 69, 28 February 1938, Page 3

FIERCE FIRE

PETRIL TANKS EXPLODE i _ EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. SYDNEY, February 17. Hundreds of men, women and children in pyjamas saw 50 firemen tight a Are which caused damage estimated at £IO,OOO and imperilled property worth £500,000. The outbreak occurred in Dalgety’s Service Station and threatened their bond store, which adjoins it, in McElhone street, A\ T ooloomooloo. Over twenty-two ears were damaged, some being practically destroyed. The heat was so intense that a car 100 ft., from the scat of the fire hurst into flames, and 1 waterpipes scorched the hands when they were touched. Headquarters received a call at 3.24 a.m., and when the first detachments arrived a burglar alarm in the bond store was ringing loudly. It continued for more than a hour, its clanging attracting large crowds to the scene. Eventually a fireman severed the wire. The office of the four-floored service station, which is about 160 ft. long by 60ft., was well alight. Its windows had been shattered, and huge tongues of flame belched across Dowling street from the back of the building. Smoke poured from the windows and settled over the city. As firemen hacked a way through the iron shutters they were met by a rush of flame and smoke, and were forced back. Lines of hose were quickly connected, and detachments entered the building. Several ears were burning and there were explosions as their petrol tanks burst. Tyres quickly burned through, and made it impossible to building crashed into the street. Part of a ceiling above the first floor collapsed, causing firemen to run for safety, and slight damage was done on the floor above it. Cracked by the terrific heat, the outer cement skin of the concrete building crashed itno the street. Much of the building is fireproof, because of the layers of iron between ceilings and floors, and this, with plenty of room to move about, greatly aided the firemen in saving the building and the wine stock on the tipper floors. Firemen continued to fight the fire until after dawn, when a salvage corps began to sweep into the street debris and blackened water that had dammed up inside. Why run the risk 1 Insure with the Norwich Union Fire Office. All classes af risks eovered. —Pellow and Pellow, Agents, AVaipawa.*