Welding caused milk factory fire, inquiry finds

Heat from welding carried out by contractors caused a massive fire that seriously damaged Fonterra's dairy factory in Takaka last month, Fire Service investigators have found.

The fire broke out in a ceiling and spread quickly because of the extensive use of "sandwich board" cladding and lining throughout the factory, Fire Service spokesman Gary Talbot said today.

The blaze also spread uncontrolled through several parts of the $80 million dairy plant because no fire separation had been installed in the roof spaces or between areas of the factory protected by sprinklers.

More than 60 firefighters battled the fire on June 21 for more than five hours.

Sandwich panelling was "notorious" for allowing fire to spread and take hold of a large area, Mr Talbot said.

Painting and sheet metal fabrication contractors conducting off-season maintenance had been working in the area where the fire started.

The fire highlighted the need for special precautions to be taken when carrying out maintenance such as welding, cutting and metal grinding, he said.

The Fire Service recommended that companies carrying out maintenance work at their plants implement robust contractor policies and "hot work" procedures, and have trained personnel on fire watch during hot work operations.

Fonterra spokesman Daniel Riordan said the company had "no qualms" about the findings.

"Our people are looking through the report and where they can identify areas to improve safety, we will."

However, he said sandwich board cladding was widely accepted and used in the industry.

Fonterra Clandeboye hub operations manager Alan Bennett said today insurance loss adjusters were still on site in Takaka assessing the damage from the fire.

Firefighters had managed to save some key areas of the factory and Fonterra planned to continue using the plant to process milk into milk powder this season once building was completed.

- nzpa