fire firegeezer on 06 Apr 2008 11:40 am
New Zealand Blast Kills 1 FF, 6 Others Critical
all photos New Zealand Herald
A NEW ZEALAND COLD-STORAGE BUILDING containing dairy products is the scene of tragedy in Waikato. Responding to a report of fumes in the building, two fire companies were just inside the building when it suddenly exploded, catching all eight men in the blast.
The Hamilton Star Times reports:
(Fire Chief Roy) Breeze said there appeared to be nothing showing and they were treating it as a simple gas leak when there was a huge explosion.
“That explosion took out both crews. All eight people. When the next appliance arrived there was only one man still standing.”
Breeze also paid tribute to the local residents, including some doctors and surgeons who were at a nearby party.
The off-duty medical staff raced to the hospital. “Every specialist went to try and help out.”
Senior Station Officer Derek Lovell, who had at least 25 years service, died from his injuries at Waikato Hospital overnight. The New Zealand Press Assoc. reported the conditions of the remaining six firefighters:
Waikato Hospital group manager Hayley McConnell said one of the firefighters remained in a critical condition. The 43-year-old man was transferred to Middlemore national burns unit last night, where he underwent surgery.
A 37-year-old is stable in the Waikato Hospital intensive care unit and was likely to be transferred to the high dependency unit or a ward today, she said.
Two 51-year-olds remain in the Waikato Hospital high dependency unit.
One will remain there and undergo surgery today while the other is likely to be transferred to a ward sometime today.
A 36-year-old is in a ward and is in a serious condition, while a 35-year-old has been transferred to a ward and is in a stable condition.
A 33-year-old was treated in the hospital’s emergency department and had been sent home.
There is great concern about the mortality of at least one of the survivors.
Chief Breeze said the building was a mass of flames after the blast and the fire spread to a second adjoining building, destroying both. The plant contained gas and flammable substances as well as cheese, itself flammable as it melts and turns into an oil that will flow and carry the flames with it.
One of the two fire engines consumed in the blaze.
They also had to contend with a large LPG cylinder that had fire underneath of it.
Waikato health authorities told Radio New Zealand the black smoke that was still billowing from the plant on Saturday night was not toxic. Additional explosions were occurring throughout Saturday night. The Fire Brigade has taken the position of allowing the fire to burn itself out, which will likely be later Sunday or Monday.
Propane explosions continued throughout Saturday night.
The Hamilton Sunday Star has the latest STORY.
New Zealand Herald photo gallery HERE.
on 06 Apr 2008 at 10:39 pm 1.Darren said …
This is such a devastating thing to happen and it is such a rare event, I think the last person to die in the line of duty in New Zealand was in the early 80’s as for my part of Australia, nothing has happened since the 70’s. My thoughts are with the family concerned, you just never know, the simple jobs can turn out like this.