Sodium Chlorate Drums Catch Fire on Lighter

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 September 1947, Page 5

Sodium Chlorate Drums Catch Fire on Lighter

Sydney, Sept. 29

of sodium chlorate which had been loaded aboard the British motor-ship Glenogle irt Sydney Harbour were unloaded again after fire had broken out among similar drums in a lighter alongside. The ship was to have carried 41 tons of sodium chlorate to Melbourne, but sailed without it because firemen thought that the cargo might be dangerous.

Fire broke out in a wooden deck of the lighter, where the drums had been standing. It was put out by officers and members of the crew of the Glenogle. Only slight damage was done. Fire officers said afterwards that but for the promptness of the Gienogie’s men there might have been a serious explosion. When the ship arrived at Sydney from Canada on September 18, the sodium chlorate on board, ail of which was consigned to Melbourne, was removed from the vessel and held on the lighter. This practice has been adopted since the recent disastrous fire on the Melbourne waterfront, in which 10 were killed and the freighter Mahia seriously damaged.