Fire in Factory

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 373, 6 June 1928, Page 1

Fire in Factory

LAURIE’S AGAIN GUTTED

Good Save by Brigade

FOR the second time this year another destructive Are occurred last evening at the premises of C. G. Laurie, Limited, biscuit and confectionery manufacturers, Stanley Street. The damage to the stock, plant and buildings is estimated at £IO,OOO, a loss which probably would have been more serious but for good work by the Parnell and City Brigades.

From a distance the cloud-like effect of a dense column of smoke, that rolled slowly upward from the direction of Carlaw Park, at first did not suggest anything amiss, but a little later bright flames showing through the smoke attracted a large crowd of spectators to the scene. The alarm was received by lilt Parnell fire station at eight o'clock, but on the arrival of the brigade it was found that the flames had a secure hold, and the assistance of another fighting unit from the main station was obtained. ROOF IN FLAMES It was in the centre portion of the big building, wherein were housed the ovens and the rolling and dough mixing machines, that the outbreak had got its biggest hold. Flames and dense masses of smoke were soon issuing from the roof, the crackling flames spreading quickly to tlje rear of the building, w'hich runs back to the Carlaw Park entrance. The main attack against the flames was launched from a right-of-way at the side of the building, extra leads also being brought into act’on from the back. In the yard still mained some of the debris from the previous fire, and recent rebuilding operations, and this somewhat hampered the work, the fire-fighters having to clamber over heaps of refuse in their en-

deavour to drag the hoses through an opening n the wall. Due to good work by the brigade, by half-past nine the fire was practically out, hut not before the building had been badly gutted, and the stock well saturated with water. Part of the equipment wsis salvaged, and the brigade also managed to save a new chocolate-making machine which had been used for the first time yesterday. It is thought that the flames obtained their hold above the ovens, for soon after the outbreak was discovered they had obtained a good hold in the wooden lining of the iron roof, and were spreading from there fanwise to other parts ol the building. Since the previous fire, the ovens have been covered with two feet of pumice packing inside a cement cover. INSURANCES On the occasion of the last fire, on January 28 of this year, the damage was estimated at £9,000, the insurances being held by the South British and New Zealand offices. The insurances on this occasion were held by the South British and the New Zealand Insurance Companies. The plant w r as covered for £12,000 in the South British Office, which also held £4.500 on the building. The New Zealand Company held £2,500 also cn the building.