SPECTACULAR FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1928, Page 1

SPECTACULAR FIRE

dp MONSTER OIL STORE

RAGES ALL NIGHT.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, April 1

Fire started in the benzine store of Wilnstone, Ltd. on the waterfront, his afternoon. The, flames rose from the burning oil fuel to a great height, the fire being a most spectacular one. The fire still continues (at 4.27 u.m.) and is likely to burn for several hours. The blaze is being watched by a large crowd of people. Two firemen, named Walker and Bejiutn, have been sent to the hospital suffering from burns. Petrol and motor oils to tin* value o! titty thousand pounds were destroyed on Sunday when the burning of the oil store ol AA histone Ltd., at Freemason’s Ray, provided the most spectacular fire in the history of Auckland. Starting at 1.30 in tho afternoon the tire raged with unabated fury all the afternoon and througln lit the night. The building wits stored to the roof with almost live hundred thousand gallons of petrol in cases and forty gallon drums. All that was saved was thicc cases of benzine which were used l.u teed the fire brigade pump. About 20,000 eases were stored on behalf ol H. D. Wills, Ltd., whose stock is believed to lie substantially covered in the United Office. Wright, Stephenson, Ltd., had about 5,000 cases, insured for about £3,000 in the New Zealand office. .Robertson Bros, had about 5.000 cases and 100 drums substantially insured in the London and Lancashire Office. Other firms lost smaller lots. , .Winstone’s building whs valued at £4OOO, iihcl .was insured.in the London aiid Lancashire Office for about £2OOO. AViiistone’s had about 5000 cases .aiid (500 drums of oil in the building .valued approximately at £4OOO, insured for about £2OOO iii tlio same office. As the flames leapt up higher and higher through the densest pillar of smoke they created a veritable hurricane, which, swejit down the northern .side of Hie building, a brick structure. Empty tins were whisked in nil directions, while there were frequent and

ieavy explosions, and lingo 40 gallon

drums were tossed into tho air like feathers, disappearing (or a moment in the smoke and then falling red hot almost at the feet of a dense crowd. One fireman wlis seriously injured, nml two others were slightly burned. Ronald Beutli is in hospital unconscious, with acute burns to hand and face. Robert Walker is also in bispital with painful burns on the face.

Throe men were playing a hose on part of the building which showed signs of cracking when, with a terrific roar.

benzine tins and red hot drums of oil wore hurled into the air. The debt is

and flaming petrol fell about them. Beutli was enveloped and the other two wore thrown to the ground, blinded. They lay in the middle of a raging furnace. They were dragged out, given first aid and removed to the hospital. Other firemen suffered much from blistered hands and faces. 'Hie City Brigado and Harbour fire float pumped water direct from ,the sea continuous, nearly one thousand gallons a minute at a high pressure, but it- vanished in steam practically as it left the hoses. THE POSSIBLE CAUSE. AUCKLAND. April 2.

The fire at Wiiwtone’.s oil store burned fiercely all night. About three this morning, one of the biggest explosions occurred. The smoke was not so dense as yesterday but with a light wind it ascended two thousand feet and drifted over tho western waterfront. The overheating of tho air in tho upper part of the building is advanced as a theory for the cause of the fire, cases in some instances being stacked to within a few inches of the corrugated iron roof, and led to a combination of petrol fumes and heated air producing spontaneous combustion.