Spectacular Bitumen Fire

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Dwarfed by the mountainous cloud of billowing black smoke, Fireman Doug Fee takes a lone stand against the tremendous blaze as he directs his stream of water on to the side of the steel tank. Firemen were concerned that the tank might overheat, and burst outwards.

A fierce bitumen fire in a 30,000 gallon vertical steel storage tank on the property of Bitumen Sprayers Ltd, Awapuni Road, was quelled after a half-hour battle by the Gisborne Fire Brigade.

The fire followed a violent explosion which ripped the top off the tank and hurled it through the air to land some 150 feet away. Although the explosion was heard up to two miles from the scene, workmen and residents in the immediate vicinity escaped serious injury, and only minor shock damage was done to nearby buildings.

Using foam compound, the brigade had difficulty in getting at the seat of the fire, but overcame this by directing their hoses at a high angle, to allow the foam to drop into the 20ft high tank.

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At the height of the blaze, a fireman runs for assistance as his companion directs his hose on to the side of the tank.

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After the fire was extinguished, firemen inspect the inside of the tank from a ladder, and spectators look in awe at the crumpled top in a nearby yard.