SCHOOL BUS GUTTED IN NIGHT FIRE
NEW PLYMOUTH, Dec. 11. A midnight blaze destroyed a 43seater bus owned by Mr J. H. Oollinson, Okaiawa, used in the conveyance of Hawera Technical High SchooJ and Tokaora school children. So sudden and fierce was the outbreak, which occurred outside Alr Collinson's hom.e, that he was unable to salvage anything. Tht bus was completely gutted. Mr Collinson was (illmg ihe bus with petrol al! 12.10 a.m. after returning from the Hawera Technical High School annual break-up ceremony. Suddenly he had to leap bacltivards as the bus was enveloped in flamCs. I't is thought that a short-circuit in( the petrol guage staited Ihe outbreak. Within a few seconds the devouring flames had gamed complete control of the vehicie. Mr Collinson attempted to reach into the cab and snatch a fire extinguisher but fierce flames prevented him from doing so. This attempt .was detennined but by that lime the bus was a roaring ,inferno. ;; ablaze Mr Collinson- did what he could to sa\e it from tptal destriictiom He connected a gardeii hose and plaved it on the engine and front tyres' anil succeeded in preventmg them from being destroved. There was little he could do however to save the rest of the .vehicie which iu 20 minutes was a gutted wrcck. V
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Bibliographic details
Chronicle (Levin), 13 December 1949, Page 6
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217SCHOOL BUS GUTTED IN NIGHT FIRE Chronicle (Levin), 13 December 1949, Page 6
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