FIRE FIENDS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1929, Page 5

FIRE FIENDS

PETROL STORE FIRED. A GREAT BLAZE. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 2. This morning petrol was still blazing furiously at the remains of the motor spirit store of D. H. Brown and Coy., which was set aiiglit by incendiarists last night. Suspicious Characters were seen yesterday afternoon round several of the oil companies’ premises in Moorhouse Avenue. 'Their appearance roused the apprehensions of the managers and as a pro.ective measure the guards on the petrol stores in the Avenue were doubled.-

All the guards at the stores were on the look-out for such an occurrence as that of last .night, even before the big blaze. There was a motor patrol in Moorehouse Avenue and men were making unexpected calls to various buildings. In spite of this, the incendiarists must have evaded the cordon, for when the fire was discovered, two big doors in the building were unlocked, although they/had been left securely locked when the men ceased work for the day.

ANOTHER ATTEMPT ON MOTOR ’ > ' SHED. . Earlier in the evening, 9.45 o’clock, incendiarists also attempted to set fire to a motor shed in Milton Street, about a mile front the petrol stores, and in the same part of the city, but the liames were quelled/ AWE INSPIRING SPECTACLE. ■ ■ j' ■ The spectacle towards midnight was awe-inspiring, • and a huge crowd had gathered. Sheets of flame and thick columns of smoke shot hundreds of feet int the air. At the same time there was a noise like a battery of machine guhs firing, as the petrol containers exploded. > Later, this noise died away, but at intermittent intervals the ground trembled with the force of the explosions inside the blazing building. The most spectacular scene was when the main part of the roof,fell in. The petrol store was filled with oil. ■ • On AVednesday afternoon a whole consignment was taken in which totalled about 120,000 gallons and all this went up in smio.-.e. and flame. The goodsheds opposite Brown and Co.’s store, were cleared in record time by railwaymen. As soons as the danger was observed'the Department called in all its staff and all goods in the shed opposite the fire were rapidly loaded into railway waggons. An engine was attached to the train and kept in readiness to haul it put, if danger threatened.

FIRE DAMAGE,

FIREMEN’S NARROW. ESCAPE. CHRISTCHURCH, August 2. Fire bugs have now caused over £50,000 damage in Christchurch within the past three weeks. In all there have been twelve suspicious fires. •Superintndent Warner states that three firemen had a narrow escape yesterday evening. When taking a lead to the south door of the store, a. petrol drum burst out, throwing them violently backwards. At the same moment a brick gable crashed where the men had been standing a second previously. But for the explosion they would probably have been skilled. THE DAMAGE DONE. r . ESTIMATED AT £12,000. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 2 Messrs Brown estimate .'the total damage caused by the burning of the petrol store at £12,000. The store was covered by a policy or £2,500 in the Royal Office and the petrol by a floating policy.