FILM EXPLOSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1921, Page 5

FILM EXPLOSION.

BIG FIRE FOLLOWS. SENSATION IN SYDNEY. I By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 20, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 20. An explosion occurred on Saturday afternoon which carried off the roof of the Overseas Service Film Company’s premises in Park Street, and threw blazing debris in all directions. Luckily few people were in the street at the time. The flames quickly spread to five adjoining comparatively small shops, and the top floors of these were gutted, while the lower floors were badly damaged. The firemen, by a great effort, prevented the fire spreading to big adjoining premises and across the street, where the explosion shattered many windows. Flying fragments gave the flames a good hold. Three people in a shop adjoining the film premises were slightly injured. A woman jumped from an upper window. The damage totals many thousands.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received Nov. 21, 12.30 a.m. Sydney, Nov. 20. The film company held some five million feet of films and large quantities were destroyed or damaged. The cause of the explosion is unknown. The total estimated damage of the various premises is in the vicinity of £40,000, besides damage through the heat and flying debris. Murdoch’s, another big firm across the street, suffered considerably from the automatic sprinklers’ action.