EXTENSIVE DAMAGE
POWER STATION FIRE OUTBREAK CABLE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. (Pei Press Association, Copyright). MASTERTON, December 29. Extensive ■damage wgs done at the Wairaj'flpa Electric Power Board’s sttaion at Kourarau on Monday morning by fire. The fire followed an explosion when an underground cable was struck by lightning. Insulation damage and a short circuit occurred, which set fire to all of the underground cables. When a full load was put dn ; the short circuit travelled back to the control panels, fusing the controls, and setting fire to the instruments, th© transformers and the switchboard controls.
On hearing the explosion, the engineer in charge rushed into the station, which was found to be a mass of flames. s He was hampered b v dense black suplmroiis smoke from burning copper and bitumen. Until this cleared, in about five to ten minutes, it was almost impossible to do anything.
The engineer, by the aid of extinguishers, eventually mastered the flames, but not before considerable damage was done. Repairs are now being effected..
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Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1933, Page 5
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170EXTENSIVE DAMAGE Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1933, Page 5
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