FIRE AMONG TIMBER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8359, 20 February 1913, Page 4

FIRE AMONG TIMBER

BLAZE AT ODLLN’S MILLEXTENSIVE , DAMAGE. A serious outbreak of fire occurred shortly after 4 a-m. yesterday at the timber mill and joinery department cf Messrs 0. and A. Odlin, timber merchants, Taranaki street. The brigade received the call at 4.40 a.m.. and arrived on the scene to find flames bursting through the roof of the joinery department. There was every indication that the fire, which now had a good hold, had been smouldering for hours before it burst out. The timber yards cover an area of some two acres, and there is installed a milling and joinery plant, the latter being situated on the first floor of the mill. Efforts were at onoo made to prevent the collapse of the first floor, and so save the valuable machinery beneath. This the brigade succeeded in doing, and the groundfloor machinery escaped practically undamaged. Besides the timber destroyed, the machinery on the first floor suffered serious damage, this being by far the greatest item-in;the loss. On a cursory examination of the premises it is estimated that the loss will be in the vicinity of £2OOO- There was no insurance on the building, the plant, or the stock. The firm decided last year that it would carry its own insurance reserve. It .is stated that only a few days ago, as a means of further security, it was resolved to take out a policy over the Taranaki street business. This had not been put into effect when the fire occurred. It is thought the outbreak jwas caused by a spark from the engine falling among shavings.