Tristan : Tristan da Cunha Factory Fire on 13th February 2008
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 13.02.2008 (Article Archived on 27.02.2008)
Local Shock and Dismay at Calamity of Factory Loss Initial report from Administrator David Morley sent at 13.37 on Wednesday 13th February.
Photos (c) David Morley Views of the fire damage
Tristan da Cunha Factory Fire on 13th February 2008
The original fishing factory, situated on Big Beach was totally destroyed by the lava flow from the 1961 volcanic eruption. The modern factory was built on a plateau above the new Calshot Harbour in 1965 and opened in time for the first fishing day on 23rd May 1966. Local Shock and Dismay at Calamity of Factory Loss Initial report from Administrator David Morley sent at 13.37 on Wednesday 13th February
"The alarm was raised at around 0400 this morning when the Factory was seen to be on fire. A fierce south westerly meant that by the time the fire engine arrived, nothing could be done except to let the Factory burn itself out.
No one was hurt. But the community is understandably shocked and dismayed at what has happened. However, it could have been so much worse. Had the wind been blowing in a different direction the diesel tanks would probably have gone up too. And as the fishing season has ended, the loss of revenue to the island is minimised.
However, also destroyed were the generators used to provide the island with its 24-hour electricity supply. Work is currently in hand to link the standby generator to the mains, so that islanders can keep their freezers going. The hospital has its own standby generator. Power will be rationed and carefully managed until new generators can be supplied by Ovenstone from Cape Town.
Ovenstone MD Andrew James was extremely relieved to hear that no one was hurt, and is dispatching a team to Tristan to report on the situation.
The MOD is currently assessing the implications of this calamity on Operation Zest."
(c) David Morley
|
