BLAZING LIQUID SPREADS FIRE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 51, 23 November 1937, Page 4

BLAZING LIQUID SPREADS FIRE

-Presi Association.)

Polish Factory Damaged in Auckland CONTAINERS EXPL0DE

(By Tolecraph-

AUCKLAND, Lafct Night. Extensive damage to the structuf# and contents of old two-storeyed wooden buildings in Wellington Place, off Wellington street, was caused when a quantity of fioor polish became alight. The firo quickly sprea.d throughout the buildings, and owing to the natur6' of the stocks on the premises a considerable period elapsed before the fire brigade eoul.d gct the flames under control. ? The fire started on the ground floor in the quarters occupied by Easton Products^ Ltd., manufacturers of cleaners and disinfeetants. Floor polish, eontaining a large turpentine content, was being drAwn from a 90-gallon boiler when it became ignited through its close proximity to a gas jet. The blazing polish spread over thcc oncrete floor, and, although an effort was made to extinguish it Yrith sacks, the liquid reached the wooden wafls and various articles in the room, immediately setting them alight. As the timbers of the buildings were old, and the stock largely consisted of methylated spirits, turpentinet wax and other inflammable matter used in tbe manufacture of cleansers, the ffre soon had a strong hold, minor explosions of the containers punctuating its advance. Tho flames leapt from the roof and a dense column of pungent blaek smoke attracted hundreds of spectators, who crowded in the adjacent _ lanes and backyards. According to Mr G. Easton, principal of Easton Products, Ltd., the stocks on tho premises were valued at £1500, for which a policy for £500 was placod with the New Zealand Insuraneo Co. The occupants of the upper storey Were a bag merchant and a tyre dCalor. A number of tyres and a quantity of other ruhber inaterial were saved, but a portion of the floor collapsed, and it was difficult to estimate the full extent of tho damage. The buildings were part of tho Hanley estate.