January 8, 2009

Fire fighters say sprinkler systems would have lessened damage to Dargaville shops razed by fire; investigations into cause continue
Fire fighters say sprinkler systems would have lessened the damage to a group of Dargaville stores.
A fire ripped through five buildings in the Northland town on Monday night, destroying four of them. The blaze began in a paint store.
Dargaville Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Michael King says there were no fire alarms or sprinklers in the building. He says the situation would not have got so out of control if there had been.
Mr King says hopefully it will encourage people constructing new buildings in the area to make them fire safe.
Police and the fire service are hoping to establish the cause of the fire today. Mr King says the blaze may have been due to an electrical fault.
Firefighters worked through Monday night on the blaze and Mr King says they are very grateful to locals who brought them food.