DISASTROUS FIRE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 160, 6 June 1940, Page 8

DISASTROUS FIRE

FORTY CARS DESTROYED. OUTBREAK AT BLENHEIM. Per Tress Association. BLENHEIM, June 5. The sudden flaring up of an oil heater in the paint spraying department of Lucas Brothers’ garage caused a disastrous fire this morning when in a few minutes the whole of the main part of the , garage was ablaze, destroying over 40 cars and a considerable amount of plant. The garage is a large, new reinforced concrete structure, but the flames spread with remarkable rapidity, duo presumably to the accumulation of paint fumes underneath the roof. Within two or three minutes of the alarm, the whole of the main floor was a mass of flames and had it not been for the quick work on the part of the staff, assisted by large numbers of the public, the loss in vehicles and equipment would have been considerably higher. As it was it was possible to save a number of new cars which'were lined up in the garage, including a large service car, which was the last vehicle to be brought out through heavy smoko and falling embers. The intense heat soon drove . the salvage workers back and in a remarkably short time all the parked cars in the building were alight.

11l the difficult conditions, more so because of the fumes from rubber and burning oil, the ‘‘brigadesmen got the situation under control, but not before very heavy losses and material damage to the superstructure had been caused. One of the most commendable efforts in the salvage work carried out by onlookers was the stripping of:the workshop of tools and plant as well as the manhandling of several big cars and lorries.