GARAGE BURNT OUT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1940, Page 6

GARAGE BURNT OUT

OUTBREAK IN BLENHEIM

OVER 40 CARS DESTROYED.

NEW BUILDING DAMAGED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) BLENHEIM. This Day.

The sudden flaring up of an oil heater in the paint-spraying department of Lucas Bros’ Garage caused a disastrous fire this morning, when in’a few minutes the whole of the main part of the garage was ablaze, destroying over 40 cars and a considerable amount of plant. The garage is a large, new reinforced concrete structure. but the flames spread with remarkable rapidity, which is presumed to have been caused by the accumulation of paint fumes underneath the roof. Within two or three minutes of the alarm, which was given at 10.30 a.m.. the whole main floor was a mass of flames, and had it not been for quick work on the part of the' staff, assisted by large numbers of the- public, the loss in vehicles and equipment would have been considerably higher. As it was. it was possible to save a number of new cars which were lined up in the garage, including a large service car which was the last, vehicle to be brought out. through heavy smoke and falling embers.,. The intense heat soon drove the salvagers back and in a remarkably short time all : the parked cars in the build-ing-were alight. The brigade turned out smartly and soon had three leads playing, two from the front entrance and one from a side and these later were supplemented. In difficult conditions. more so because of the fumes oi rubber and burning oil, the brigadesmen got the situation under control, but not before very heavy losses and material damage to the structure had been caused. One of the most commendable efforts in salvage work carried out by onlookers was the ’ stripping of the workshop of tools and plant, as well as the manhandling of several big cars and lorries.