By ANDREW KOUBARIDIS and ANNE-MARIE EMERSON andrew.koubaridis@wanganuichronicle.co.nz anne-marie.emerson@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
Several hundred wrecked cars went up in flames early yesterday morning at a Heads Rd car wreckers yard.
Firefighters were called to Wanganui Car Dump about 2.30am to find blazing cars stacked up to six metres high. As many as 300 cars were burnt.
Wanganui
Fire Senior Station Officer Bryce Coneybeer said two fire appliances were used including one with an aerial ladder.
Firefighters used foam to attack the fire, which took about an hour to bring under control.
"Foam is good in these situations because burning rubber gives off toxic smoke and it's difficult to put out." Mr Coneybeer said it was a good thing the fire happened so early so people in nearby workplaces weren't blanketed with toxic smoke.
"It could have been a problem," he said.
A small part of Head Rd just past the railway lines was blocked off while the fire was being put out. Firefighters were called back around 11am to deal with a flare-up, and spent much of the afternoon monitoring the situation.
Wanganui Car Dump owner Darryl Taylor said the fire was a terrible loss.
"We don't know the exact amount, but it will be a big dollar value."
The burnt cars had not been stripped for parts or crushed. "We will salvage as much as we can, but the fact they're burnt makes them harder to strip."
However, Mr Taylor said it was business as usual yesterday. Mr Taylor had nothing but praise for the Wanganui firefighters who dealt with the fire.
"They've been great. The crusher was right next to the burning cars, but they saved it by hosing it down and keeping it cool." Mr Coneybeer said it wasn't known how the fire started.
