Workshop fire causes thousands in damages at marine civil construction company

A Tasmanian marine business has told how a destructive fire broke out at its industrial worksite, causing thousands of dollars in damages and leaving a worker shaken.

Damage from a fire at Tas Marine Constructions at Electrona, south of Hobart, is billed to reach into the thousands. Picture: MATTHEW THOMPSON

A TASMANIAN marine business has told how a destructive fire broke out at its industrial worksite, causing thousands of dollars in damages and leaving a worker shaken.

Tom Wilcox of civil construction business Tas Marine Construction said a blaze broke out at business’s Electrona workshop at Pothana Rd about 6pm on Wednesday after welding sparks fell onto nearby materials.

He said property damage would likely be in the vicinity of $10,000, with significant damage caused to the workshop’s roof.

“A guy was welding – doing a bit of a long weld – and didn’t realise sparks had started a fire near him,” Mr Wilcox said.

“Then when he realised a blaze had started, it had grown too large to control. The firefighters were then called and were able to get it under control.”

Mr Wilcox said the young welder was “a bit shaken up” from the incident.

He said the company fortuitously did a tidy up of loose materials at the site earlier in the day which he said likely prevented further damage.

The Tasmania Fire Service in a brief statement said crews from Margate, Kingston and Snug attended the fire.

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Seven TFS resources worked to bring the blaze under control including three Heavy Tankers.

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