BELFAST FREEZING WORKS FIRE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2026, 11 March 1907, Page 4

BELFAST FREEZING WORKS FIRE

The Christchurch Press gives the following description of tho fire last week: — Shortly after 6.30 last evening ono of the employees at tho Belfast freezing works noticed large volumes of smoke issuing from the eastern end of tho oxtonsive range of buildings included within the establishment, and promptly raised an alarm of file. Tho steam whistle was sounded, and i.i a few moments an army of willing helpers was on the scene. Tho seat of tho conflagration was located at the north-eastern corner of the second floor of the largo three-storeyed brick fellmongery and wool store, the building being a comparatively new one. and erected to replace the one used for a similar purpose, which, oddly enough, was also destroyed by fire, tho outbreak occurring on the night of March 4th, 1899. Tho floor upon which the latest outbreak had its beginning was thinly covered with freshly scoured wool, laid out to dry, which would appear to disprove the supposition that the occurrence was due to spontaneous combustion. Tho flames advanced with startling rapidity, and in a few moments the entire floor had crashed down upon the ono immediately below, and thence to the ground flat, the immense building being at once wrapped in a Inigo mantle of flame, tongues of which shot high into tlie air and reached out in vicious attack upon the neighboring structures. The company’s fire prevention plant was speedily brought into operation, and though doings splendid service under the direction of the staff, failed to make much impression upon so largo an outbreak. In the meantime the Christchurch Fire Brigade had been apprised of tho occurrence, and the consent of the municipal authorities having been obtained, the “extinguisher” from Chester street was despatched by road, Superintendent Smith proceeding to the scene in the motor chemical engine in order to make arrangements for stationing the steamer on its arrival. The distance was 1 covered by tho horses in undei half an hour, and the engine got to work without any delay, drawing water from the creek running through tho company’s property, and 1400 feet of lioso being laid out. Mr Waymouth arranged also for tho services of the railway firo engine (the Powerful), which was shipped on a truck and taken out by special train, getting to work shortly before nino o’clock,

Immediately to the eastward of tho burning building is tho “fiddle string” department ; on the southern side (about 20 feet distant) the manure store, immediately adjoining which is tho oleo house, where oils of different kinds are prepared. At the rear and adjoining the fellmongery are the tallow house, preserving works, and boiler house, whence the supply of steam is obtained, all of the buildings noted, with the exception of that destroyed, being wooden structures with iron roofs. Thoso nearest at hand wore alight several times, and considering that a fairly brisk oast wind prevailed, it is remarkable that the untoward event was not attended with more serious consequences. A? a precautionary measure (to obviate endangering the lives and limbs of those engaged disputing the progress of tho flames) the tallow contained in the Vftts was let off, lest they should explode with tho heat, while several casks similaly charged, laid out ready for shipment, took fire and hurst. A stream of this material ran between tho rails of one of the sidings for a considerable distance, and at one period it became ignited, presenting the appearance of an angrily burning rivulet. The smoke from the burning wool and pelts was of almost suffocating character, and being given off in dense volumes, rendered the work of those engaged in coping with the outbreak most difficult, in addition to which melting tallow spread broadcast made the foothold treacherous in the extreme.

By nine o’clock nil danger of further spread of the devastation appeared to be past, and the energies of the city brigade and the company’s staff were directed towards extinction of the still fiercely burning pile of ruins contained within the gaunt and ominously swaying walls of the building destroyed. Of the new portion absolutely every particle of the fabric is ruined beyond all possibility of repair. At tho northern end, however, a little of the wooden part remains standing, but is more or less gutted. By 10.30 the safety of the rest of the establishment was assured, but a staff of firemen with the railway engine was kept on duty all night playing on the debris, which will probably continue to smoulder for days. As has been indicated, the cause of the fire is not yet apparent. Owing to the difficulty with the slaughtermen, not a large amount of material lias been coming into the fellmongery department during the past few days and yesterday was the first occasion during the present season that work for the day there concluded at five o’clock, operations usually extending

well into the ovoning. As a consequence (tho last man off leaving tho premises at 5.30) there was nobody about tho building at the time when the firo begun, although a couido of hours later would have witnessed inspection of tho pluco by tho works foreman and tho night watchman. Tho building destroyed contained a largo quantity of valuablo modern machinery, and in addition there was a considerable number of bales of wool and casks of pelts on hand awaiting shipmont. Ono cliont of tlio company has been particularly unfortunate in this connection. Some 130 casks of polts owned by him woro to have been despatched by tho Tongariro, and were all ready for loEding-out, but at tho last moment advice was received to tho offect that they could not bo taken by that vessel.