Fire Vol 5 no3

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ISSN 2324-2779 Volume 5 Issue 3 Jun 2014– Aug 2014 Established 2010

NEWSLETTER OF THE AUCKLAND AUCKLAND FIRE BRIGADE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Editorial

Patron Allan Bruce AFSM, FIFireE

The society has recently had to move from the rooms we occupied in the basement of the HQ building due to expansion of USAR. It was a bit of a major logistics exercise as we have amassed over 1000 items in the collection, from photo negatives to ladders and everything in between, but it went well and everything is at present in storage until a new home can be found for the us. Due to this the next couple of issues will be limited in their contents as access to our archives for information is a bit restricted, so if you have any articles, photos or information that could be used please contact me.

The society is now an affiliate member of the NZ Ex Firefighters Assn. (reciprocal) and we look forward to working with Ric and his team on upcoming projects that will benefit and achieve the goals of both groups.

Allan Bruce, our patron, visited Auckland in April and the committee welcomed him back with a visit to Fire HQ and arranged for the Scania Bronto to lower its basket over the balcony. Allan was away for a ride and before long he was operating it and his comment was “very impressive”. It was good to see him again. He has offered the society his Regional Commanders uniform and white Super chieftain helmet with the red comb, which we have gratefully accepted for the collection.

Management Superintendent: Roger Callister Dep. Superintendent: (NZFS Liaison) Vacant Secretary/Editor: Colin Prince Treasurer: Laurie Thompson Committee Peter (Sprats) Doughty Kevin Farley Grant Manning David Neil Forbes Neil John (High-rise) Walker Gary (GT) Walker Web Master Brendon Pascoe NZFS Ex Officio Member: Brian Butt, Fire Region Manager

The society would like to thank: SATO New Zealand Ltd for their assistance with barcoding our archives.

In This Issue: Line of duty deaths: William Godwin Recent Jobs: Firelines 1970—Blades Chemicals Turnout for Blades chemicals Colin

Line of Duty deaths William Godwin 31 January 1887

Correspondence To: Auckland Fire Brigade Historical Society P.O Box 68-444 Newton, Auckland 1145, NZ membership@afbhs.co.nz Website: www.afbhs.co.nz Like us on Facebook Membership fees: Full: $15.00 Associate: $10.00 (overseas) Brigade/Corporate: $50.00 Membership year: 1 April—31 March

Membership Fire Museum Network– USA William GODWIN of the Auckland Fire Patrol and Salvage Corp died NZ Federation of Historical Societies on January 31, 1878, from injuries received at 0630 hours on January MOTAT Society—Affiliate 16, when the horse drawn cart overturned returning along Princess UFBA—Associate member Street after a fire. He was an ex-AVFB member. The Corp were staNZ Ex Firefighters Assn—Affiliate tioned in Queen Street, near Victoria Street. They removed possessions from the property on fire, put out small fires, and were the only fireRegistered Charity number: CC45510 fighting unit that attended fires outside their district.

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Whitelaw was working nearby. He first noticed the fire when he heard an explosion followed by screams from inside the building. As he broke in one door, two women cleaners escaped through another and he was nearly trapped himself in his search for them. The two girls, however, left the scene immediately and it was feared that they were still inside. At 1850, from S.S.O. Kenrick; "Make pumps 6" Mt. Roskill despatched.

Then a size up from 3rd Officer Miller. "This is a building approximately 150' x 200' well involved, exposures on either sides, six jets in use. The dwelling next door started to bum, from the radiation. At 1858 from D.C.F.O. "Make Pumps 10". Headquarters two Internationals - the BA. Tender; Pt. Chevalier, Mt. Eden and Manurewa turned out. Flames from the fire could be seen from the motorway at Market Rd. The smoke would leave little doubt in the minds of S.O Young and his crew from Pt. Chevalier as to what lay before them, at 1906 "Make Pumps 12, approach from Church St. end of O`Rourke Road" S.O. Fox and three men from Parnell as well as S.0. Williams with two from Ponsonby were put to task. Firemen on the fireground were taking a stand surrounding the building.

As the fire in the house next door was being dealt with, new problems literally popped up. Efforts were made to determine what was stored in the building.

Firemen were pelted from the sky by all sorts of debris — exploded aerosol tins, bits of office equipment, roofing and what not. Such had caused Fireman Sparkes to suffer a gashed hand. Power lines were falling to the ground and crowds of spectators were impeding the arrival of pumps. At 1909 – From the Chief Fire Officer: “This is a building of one and two stories; approximately 200' x 150"; well involved in fire, adjacent house on fire. 10 jets in use." Two deliveries were knocking the fire in the house. At 1928 — "16 jets and B.A. in use." Then, after 2000 hours arrangements were being made for compressed air cylinder firms to standby to re-fill spent cylinders. The compressor on the B.A, tender was out of service at the time. It was well that arrangements were previously made for the servicing of B.A. cylinders as the first mam succumbed to the fumes shortly after. S.O .

Drumm from Mt. Roskill station was taken to hospital with three firemen. The toxic atmosphere hazard was recognised and met. The men on the deliveries were replaced by those wearing breathing apparatus. But as time told, many fell to the effects of the fumes of burning plastics, chemicals insecticides and fumigation gasses. Arrangements were made for crates of milk to be obtained and taken to the fireground. The effects of cold milk on the throat membranes of a fireman who has "eaten" a lot of smoke are well known.

Finally, the stop message. "From Chief Fire Officer, stop for Blades Fumigation, O'Rouke Road, a building of 2 floors about 100’ x 150' used as fumigant manufacturers. Entire building severely damaged by fire.

Eighteen jets and B.A. in use. Fire situation under control, however, a severe hazard still exists in the surrounding area. Police have broadcast messages re-

Recent Jobs

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February was at trying month. Miles of hose were used for the multiple brush and gorse tires which plagued just about every crew on the third of the month, and the hose layer was emptied at the Waikumete Cemetery fire. Then came the "Chairs & Frames� job -- Make Pumps 12" on the tenth. Two days later it was Milne & Choyce on Queen Street., "Make Pumps 10. T.T.L’s 2". The Chief Fire Services Officers Exercise used 8 pumps, and 2 T.T.L’s but it was real flames and smoke that turned out seven pumps to Fitzgerald Industries on O`Rourke Rd. Penrose, just two calls after an "All hands" on Crummer Rd., Ponsonby. But what the men who fought fire at the Fitzgerald rug plant didn’t know was that they were just down the street and a day away from the Blades Fumigation plant and a fire which would give the Auckland firemen the worst punishment they’ve collected for quite a while. Consider a brew of various herbicides, insecticides, agricultural chemicals, fumigation chemicals and put them in drums, tins bottles and aerosol sprays. Add a good load of stored plastic sheeting and place them in a 128 x 180 one story building in unprotected steel trussing under the fibrolite and iron roof and little in the way of internal partitions. No Sprinklers or P.F.A. Add the intense heat of a major fire, then send the firemen in. That is essentially what confronted the Ellerslie, Onehunga and Otahuhu men as they arrived at what could be described as an awesome sight -the entire building entirely involved with fire and explosions. Fire had extended to a single story 30 x 40 private dwelling next door, power poles in the Street an automobile in the car park in front and surrounding grass and hedges, both next door and across the road. The thick black smoke could be seen from Coromandel. As it drifted across the road at treetop level the smoke gave a tunnel effect as the daylight showed through from the opposite end. Before the fire was cleared 71 hours after the first call, 16 pumps, 23 officers and 42 perms, 2 voluntary officers and 15 voluntary officers would be called. A million and a quarter gallons of water would be relayed to 18 deliveries and 15 men would require medical treatment at hospital, 13 of them for inhalation injuries. The first of many 111 calls was received at 1842 hours. S.O Keeps message two minutes later was a true forecast of things to come, Proceeding down Great South Rd, large volumes of smoke showing from Blades Fumigation; Make Pumps 5". This cued the turning out of Mt. Wellington, Remuera and the usual Headquarters backing of the Control Car E.T. and Hose Layer. The D.C.F.0. and 3rd Officer were also on their way. At 1847 "Persons reported. “ Before the arrival of the first machines a Mr Brian 2

garding this to local residents, When hazard is reduced brigade control will be notified." The hazard stayed. Fifteen minutes later, two more firefighters were off to the hospital. In another quarter hour it was Fireman Crump.

Followed a few minutes later by Firemen Wills and Morris. Then Fireman Heywood the pump operator of HQ. No. 1 fell to the ground. He was followed in due course by Firemen Heath then Sapolu at 2240 hours.

Finally the fire was beaten, or so it seemed. Three crews re-called to duty arrived from Headquarters for standby.

Ellerslie, Mt. Wellington and Remuera, who had been in the front of the attack were making up and getting ready to go home. Deliveries were changed to the powerful

Darley pump on Headquarters No. 1. A total of seventeen people, 13 of them firemen, were taken to Middlemore Hospital one of them was a civilian living about a mile away. International H.Q. No. 1 returned the next morning, the three crew standby; were reduced to one but not before the Mt Wellington crew fell prey to the odourless fumes of the methyl bromide. Rotating standbys watched the fireground through-out Thursday, Friday and Saturday until S Fm. Broadribb and the Mt Eden crew left the scene, cleared by the Fire Prevention Dept., 71½ hours after S.0. Keep's first R.T. message.

AUCKLAND METROPOLITAN FIRE BOARD

71 Utility (Commer—41) At approximately 2005 hours: 23 Foam Compound Truck (Morris—47) At approximately 2040 hours: 17 H.Q 3 (Dennis F12-2) At approximately 2100 hours: 10 H.Q. RP 1 (Dennis F8-16)

Inaugural issue of Firelines Vol.1 No. 1 April 1970

Fire Call No.1058 (1970) Time: 1842 hours Date 25.2.70 Location: Blade's Chemicals Ltd., 75 O’Rorke Road, Penrose.

Between 1910 hours and 2000 hours, the following A.M.F.B, appliances and other vehicles were in attendance:

STAND-BY AT OTHER STATIONS DURING FIRE:

(a) In O'Rorke Road north of the fire: Radio No’s 34.Ellerslie (Karrier-53) pumping 35 Remuera (Commer-11) pumping 32 Onehunga 2(Karrier-44) pumping 16 H.Q.2 (International—61) pumping 39 Mt Wellington 1 (Karrier-1) 22 E.T. (Dennis F8-18) 19 B.A.E.T (Bedford—42) 2O H.L. (Internationa1—34) 33 Onehunga 3 (Ford-21) 36 Parnell (Commer-26) 14 Control Car (Holden -52) 9 Exec Car (Ford-20)

At Headquarters 28 Mt. Albert (Commer-24) 21 Foam T and monitor (Dennis F8—27 and Pyrene—40) 18 H.Q. TTL.

(B) In O'Rorke Road south of the fire: 15 H.Q. 1 (International-60) pumping 30 Mt. Roskill (Dennis F8-32) pumping 29 Mt. Eden (Commer—17) 27 Otahuhu (Karrier-4) pumping 26 Pt. Chev (Karrier-50) 25 Ponsonby (International-33) 72 Utility (Ford Transit 28) 75 Fire Alarm Van (Ford Escort-48)

Karrier-10 Under repair-motor (normally Mt.Roskill) Ford.V8—19 laid up.

At Onehunga 43 Otahuhu 2 (Dennis F12-29) At Remuera 38 St Helier’s (Karrier - 49) OUT OF SERVICE on 25.2.1970.

Landrover—3O under repair (normally Papakura) Commer-25 being painted (Mt.Wgtn.)

Commer-56 under repair—body and motor (normally Manurewa 2) Karrier—9 under repair-body and pump. (normally Manurewa 1)

(c) In Church Street, east of the fire: 46 Manurewa 1 (Karrier—45) pumping 7 F.P Car (Vauxha1l—15)

Info courtesy Forbes Neil Scrapbook “Fire3” 19681970 AFBHS acquisition # 2013.334

(d) In yard off Church Street, west of the fire 31 Onehunga 1 (Karrier—12) pumping LATER ARRIVALS AT FIRE At approximately 2000 hours: 3

Photo Gallery窶認rom the Archives

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