PETROL ABLAZE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 181, 17 November 1941, Page 5

PETROL ABLAZE

SHELL COMPANY'S STORES

THREATENED

EARLY MORNIING ALARM

Obviously the work of petrol thieves a fire broke out at the petrol dump of the Shell Oil Company, controlled l by the a gent si Messrs D. McL. Wallace Ltd., in Commerce Street, at 1 a.m. on Saturday morning. The fire was discovered by the nightwatchman who sounded the I alarm. On arrival the Fire Brigade discovered three drums of petrol blazing furiously and they undertook their dangerous task with chemical extinguishers soon having the blaze subdued and preventing serious damage. The drums concerned were one belonging to the Company of 44 gallon capacity two others, an 8 gallon and a four gallon, were found nearby. These were full of petrol and the presience of a tool which is used for unscrewing the bungs in the large drums, and alsoi a length of hose, indicated that petrol thieves had been busy and had had an accident. Apparently having completed their task to the extent of siphoning a quantity of the spirit to the two small drums which are not the pro-1 perty of Messrs D. McL. Wallace, carelessness resulted in the outbreak of fire and the culprits decamped j leaving their drums and implements behind. As stated by the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade the thief or thieves were fortunate the drums were full, as had there been any quantity of fumes a serious explosion would probably have resulted. Also very correct storage was another factor which assisted to prevent the spread of flames, the drums being well spaced. The police are making investigations.