Timberlink is investigating the cause of a sawmill fire that shut down Marlborough Airport in New Zealand. Sources: The Marlborough Express, Stuff.co.nz
Marlborough Airport was closed for three hours as its fire crew helped tackle a fire at the nearby Timberlink New Zealand sawmill site, off Battys Rd, in Blenheim.
Timberlink New Zealand Blenheim mill general manager Romon Spiers said a fire began in a fuel bin by the boilers with a smoulder spreading to a removable shavings bin.
All equipment was shut down and employees were moved to a safe area, Spiers said.
After the fire department was called, the small shaving bin was removed and the smoulder was put out without any damage to that area of the plant.
The main fire in the fuel bin was contained and crews continued to water it down for several hours.
The fire was dealt with quickly and efficiently to ensure there was limited damage to mill property, and to prevent damage to any surrounding properties.
Staff were assessing the boiler fuel system to see if it had sustained electrical damage.
The company would be investigating the cause of the fire.
“We take any incident such as this seriously,” said Mr Spiers. “We are pleased that the quick approach in dealing with this incident minimised any impact.
“We are also committed to reviewing and implementing any required corrective actions to ensure that there will be no recurrence of this issue.”
It took five fire appliances more than six hours to put out the fire.
Fire crews from Renwick, Picton, Woodbourne and two from Blenheim were called to the blaze.
Marlborough Airport was forced to close while its Woodbourne fire truck attended.
Marlborough Airport chief executive Dean Heiford said there were no scheduled flights when the airport was closed.
“This was an unusual situation and a review is being undertaken to ensure this type of request does not affect the operation of the airport unless absolutely necessary,” Heiford said.
