TANNERY FIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1939, Page 7

TANNERY FIRE

BIG BLAZE IN AUCKLAND SEVERAL BUILDINGS DESTROYED. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT £20.000. (By Telegraph—Press Association > AUCKLAND. June 14. Damage estimated at about £20,000 was caused by a fire which practically destroyed the tannery works of Lee and Arlington, Ltd., Luke Street. Otuhuhu. tonight. Three detached wooden two-story building were burned to the ground, and two other buildings partially destroyed. Though the origin of the fire is unknown. it started in a hide store and garage, in which a 3A-ton lorry was kept. The lorry and a considerable quantity of finished and unfinished hides and other raw materials were lost.

The flames in this building were far beyond control when the Otahuhu Fire Brigade arrived. Tins brigade was later supplemented by machines from other stations and more than 30 firemen wore engaged in suppressing the fire, which was still raging after three hours, but with signs of being brought under control about 'midnight. Delay in cutting off the high voltage lines leading to the works hindered the firemen in the early stages. The works hydrant was near the point at which the power lines entered the building, and short-circuiting provided a spectacular display for a large number of spectators. The transformer in the road fused, and power services in the districts around Otahuhu were interrupted for some time. Some difficulty was experienced in getting sufficient water to fight the fife, as the works stand' some 200 yards from the roadline, and leads of hose then had to be brought from two points in adjoining streets.