SERIOUS FIRE OUT[?] AT OHAI MINE

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5326, 12 February 1947, Page 4

SERIOUS FIRE OUT[?] AT OHAI MINE

INVERCARGILL, bu Production of coal at tb Company's Ohai mine ha stopped for an indefinite ps fire which swept the w!ci and other buildings late « day night did extensive ha spite of the efforts of ea and local residents, anl valuable machinery was^it Two fire fighters were when a blazing roof and e belt under which they were collapsed on top of them. H j Mr. Edward Connell O'Halkn 33, of Nightcaps; severely and admitted to the Sonfflr ! pital, and Mr. Andrew ColEp manager, who sufferedsIMti Mr. O'Halloran, a at, worlc only on Saturday ot an absence for tliree yeai; of illness. Danger to Firefightf The fire started about 1 by 11.30 the buildings, n about a mile and a half head of the pit, were hlazirThe heat c-f grease stored d the shecls and the burstings drums endangered the lives near the fii-e. A water supply was toi the Wairaki mine streaa three chains away, but int the efforts to get it under w fire raged f'or several Iioe winch and winch house 2 of the other gear were k The weighbridge was aho! the screens and elevating be were in the same house ra A* gang- beg-an work on ! moEiing clearing up the defe The cause of the outbreak been ascertained. It probal-1? on the loading platform K boiler house which is besrfei form. The pit head is on one 5 valley about a mile wide i screens are -on the otlifriiS was no fire in the seam itsdi