SERIOUS FIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 246, 16 October 1937, Page 10

SERIOUS FIRE

TIMBER DESTROYED Brunner Sawmilling Company PLANING SHEDS BURNT [ Per Press Association. J GREYMOUTH, Oct. 15. Damage estimated at £20,000 resulted from a lire in the planing sheds of the Lake Brunner Sawmilling Company at Kuril, on the Otira railway line, this evening, about a million feet of seasoned red pine boards valued at £ 14,000 was destroyed, also plant, including three planing machines, a modern Diesel engine, and a building covering an acre oi land. Employees and others were handicapped in lighting the flames, which rose to a great height, but eventually made a break in the timber between the drying kiln and the company’s sawmill, thus preventing the lire reaching the latter. The Midland railway passes close tO the mill and the rails were bent and twisted remarkably, holding up trains for a couple of hours. The tire lasted from 4.45 p.m. until 7.30 p.m., and a fairly strong nor’wester saw most of the damage effected in a quarter of an hour. The origin is believed to be a blackberry fire reaching to shavings at the western end of the building. Two railway wagons, one full ot timber, standing in a sid ; ng, were also destroyed. It is understood that th£ plant, building and timber were all covered by insurance, but the amounts are not ascertainable to-night from the Australian Alliance Company, which holds the policy.

The plant was one of the largest on the West Coast, and was managed by Mr. A. T. Birchfield. The head office is at Wellington. Three trains were held up, also a railcar. So intense was the heat that the railway line could not be examined for some time, but a gang of men from Moana braved the great heat, expeditiously replacing the rails. Later the automatic signalling system was restored. The telephone lines also had to be replaced.