FIERCE FIRE SWEEPS BLENHEIM GARAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2962, 14 November 1925, Page 3

FIERCE FIRE SWEEPS BLENHEIM GARAGE.

DOZEN OARS ABANDONED TO THEIR FATE. Blenheim, November, 13. This afternoon an outbreak of Are at Newman's garage swept the entire building from Wynen to High streets. The garage contained a large number of cars. The fire was of a most spectacular nature. The building was a mass of llames within five minutes of the alarm being given. The fire originated in the workshop, where a mechanic was soldering down a sinajl tin of lubricating oil, when it burst into flames. An attempt was made to smother the flames with chemical extinguishers, but without avail, lhe brigade was then summoned at once, but before it could arrive, the flames had spread to the oil-soaked work-benches, and fanned from one end to the other, quickly ignited the whole place. A service car from Nelson arrived in the garage just as the flames burst through the workshop door and the driver lost no time in backing his car into the street. Two or three cars were also run out into the street, but in an incredibly short space of time,, smoke became so dense and the flames spread so rapidly that the building became untenable and from ten to a dozen ears had to be abandoned to their fate., Some of these cars, which have been extensively damaged, were brand-new, the number including the valuable demonstration car of” a make new to Blenheim, which arrived this morning. It is impossible at this stage.to compute the damage to the cars, most of which were privately owned and were merely garaged at Newman's. The outbreak was so sud den that there was no time to save the firm’s books and office documents, but fortunately these escaped destruction and were salved, wet, but still readable. Details as to insurances an'd estimates as to damages are not available.