The blaze at Surfers Inkspot Printers started in the early hours of Sunday 23 June. A Queensland Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said four crews rushed to the scene after receiving a call at 3.25am, and that the fire was brought under control by 4.12am.
Inkspot owner Jim Kinsel said the cause of the fire had not yet been determined, but that he thought it might have been caused by a machine in pre-press. "The police and the insurance company are ruling out any foul play," he said. The Queensland Fire spokesperson also said there was nothing suspicious about the fire.
Kinsel told ProPrint that the 20-staff firm had been forced to write off a Xerox digital printer that was installed earlier this year.
The fire also damaged a platemaking machine and a five-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster 74, he said. He estimated the damage bill at $250,000.
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Kinsel said Nova Press, Fast Proof Press and PR Trade Binding had been helping out with platemaking over the past week since the blaze.
"We're back running. No one is breaking records but we're alive and kicking," he said.
"It was pretty tough Monday and Tuesday, but we got back on track pretty quickly. We're not missing a beat. I have great staff – everybody is pitching in."
A quick recovery initially seemed unlikely. The first electrician the firm consulted said it would take up to four weeks to restore power, but the second was able to have the electricity running by the following day.
Kinsel told ProPrint that he held grave fears when the emergency services awoke him in the middle of the night.
Arriving at the scene, he feared the worst when he found the street cordoned off by four firetrucks.
Kinsel said the firefighters had done everything possible to protect Inkspot while putting out the blaze.
"I'm just so impressed by these guys. They went out of their way to cover machines and to look after my equipment. They really care."
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