Drug Supply Lost In £30,000 Blaze

Press, Volume C, Issue 29518, 20 May 1961, Page 12

Drug Supply Lost In £30,000 Blaze

(N.Z. Press Association! INVERCARGILL, May 18. The cause of a £30,000 fire in the dispensary at Kew Hospital early this morning was still unknown late tonight, when a spokesman for the Invercargill Fire Brigade said it was “still under investigation.” About £15,000 worth of drugs were destroyed and mattresses and linen in the storeroom, which formed the rear of the building were also destroyed. A truck parked at the ramp to the storeroom was extensively damaged and the dispensary room was gutted. The spokesman said there were still “one or two puzzling factors,” and it could be two or three days before the result was known. The police had not been called to investigate.

It is understood that a heater and a refrigerator were in the room near the corner where the fire was believed to have started.

The blaze had a good hold when the Invercargill Fire Brigade was summoned. The flames had broken through the roof of the dispensary and were visible from the

Fumes and exploding containers made work difficult for the firemen, police and hospital staff, who helped fight the blaze. No serious injuries were reported although glass was "flying like lead” inside the dispensary. Drugs, X-ray Film Lost Dr. Howard Hunter. Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said today that patients were not in any immediate danger at any stage.

The fire was confined to the dispensary nd the storeroom.

Although practically all the hospital’s suoply of drugs and X-ray films was destroyed supplies were being rushed from northern centres.

A truck load of drugs left Dunedin at 8 a.m. today and would tide the hospital over until a bigger shipment could be obtained.

Dr. Hunter gave an assurance that no patients would suffer by a shortage of drugs.

A patient who told a nurse that "someone was committing suicide” gave the first alarm.

The patient heard explosions coming from the direction of the dispensary. Thinking someone was committing suicide she told a nurse.

The nurse noticed the smoke and the alarm was raised. Within minutes.

Dr. Hunter said that the brigade arrived very quickly. “I was called at the same time,’’ he said, “and by the time I got to the hospital the engines—three of them—were already there.” Burst Ether Bottles The three units were soon reinforced by another engine and a trailer pump. Dr. Hunter said that the brigade soon had the fire confined to the dispensary and put it out within an hour. He thought that the brigade had some trouble putting out the flames pouring from burst ether bottles. A spokesman for the fire brigade said late today that the men had trouble holding their footing on the slippery floor of the building. Ninety per cent, of the patients in the hospital did

according to Dr. Hunter, the brigade was there and at battle with the flames.

not know there was a fire until they were told. Dr. Hunter said that a sixth year student, sleeping in a room beside the dispensary, heard the popping and thought someone was letting off fireworks. He turned over in his bed and went back to sleep. The truck. which was badly damaged, was backed into the ramp of the storeroom. It was loaded with uniforms and supplies of linen for country hospitals. They were all destroyed. At times the flames, which burst through the roof of the dispensary, sending tiles and rafters crashing to the floor, could be seen for miles

Among the stock damaged were bulk supplies of chemicals, sutures, ether, cotton wool, cellulose, surgical instruments, two suction machines, and nearly all the X-ray films on the hospital premises.