Jul 24th 2008 11:07am
NZPA Auckland
FIREFIGHTERS TAKE PRECAUTIONS OVER GOLD FACTORY FIRE
Auckland, July 24 NZPA - Firefighters fearing they may have been exposed to arsenic washed themselves down after a high-risk call to a gold smelting company in Auckland.
Arsenic is used in the smelting of gold and firefighters took the precaution of washing themselves down under portable showers after they attended a fire at the Regal Castings factory in Mt Eden.
More than 40 firefighters, 10 appliances and two ambulances were sent to the fire but no one was thought to have been hurt or affected by the fumes.
The factory cast a range of precious metals, including gold, silver and platinum, and other metals.
Firefighters in protective clothing could not get through the high security at the factory at first and had to force their way through steel doors.
Damage to the factory was not believed to be heavy.
The alarm was raised by a train commuter who reported black smoke coming from the building in central city Mt Eden about 7.30am.
Credit:NZPA