BITUMEN PLANT IN FLAMES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 109, 1 February 1935, Page 13

BITUMEN PLANT IN FLAMES

Spectacular Fire at Rongotai

1000-GALLON KETTLE FROTHS OVER

Rongotai witnessed a rare bonfire yesterday morning when the City Coull ' cil’s bitumen plant, near the aicodrome, burst into flames, s “ n . Gln ” ' umes ot greasy black smoke high in the heavens. The fire brigtide was < summoned, and was on the spot In gom time. The leads of water had little effect on the flaming structure and ih inflammable contents, but they u able to keep the fire confined to tie area of the somewhat ramshackle structure, until the contents of the upstairs kettle which contained about 1000 gallons of liquid bitumen cut-back, known technically as MC3, burned it; self out. In the meantime tne place was just a fiercely flaming ft ’ ru “ ce ' The fire broke out at about 7.1 a a.m. It appears that the men who were working voluntarily (it was the Co - poration outside staff’s picnic day) in order that the sealing of the faita Gorge Road might be completed, commenced work at about 5.30 a.m., when the heating apparatus was put into operation. As a rule it is found necessary to heat the fluid (MC3) up 180 degrees before it is run oft into the mixture of sand and flue metal in the hopper below. It is reported that when the temperature of the bitumen cut-back was last taken it was only 150 degrees, but tor some reason not yet explained it sundenly boiled up, and the contents of the kettle, which were within 9 inches or the top, frothed over ami ran down the sides. On making contact with the heated steel joists and frame of the mixer, it burst into flame and in loss than a minute the place was a veritable inferno. Mr. C. I. Kidson, the engineer in charge of the works, stated that some 20,000 gallons had passed through this kettle during the present paving season and with the completion of the Taita Gorge Road and one or two oilier little jobs, the season’s programme would have been satisfactorily accomplished. The plant originally cost about £2OOO, and was near the end of its days. As it had been practically destroyed, it would be necessary, in order to finish the season's work, to dismantle the plant in the Ngahauranga Gorge and re-erect it at Rongotai. in view of the evidence as to the temperature of the MC3, he could only assume from its behaviour that it must, have contained some foreign matter 'to cause it to swell and froth over as it had done.

The fire might have been more serious. Alongside the building is an un-. derground tank which was- untouched and about GOO gallons of HXI, used as a cold-fix (and valued at about were saved. The mishap will hold up the work of paving the Taitiv* Gorge road until such time as the Ngahauranga plant can be brought into action.