FIRE BRIGADES FROM EIGHT MUNICIPALITIES WERE TODAY (FRIDAY) RUSHED TO FIGHT A HUGE BLAZE THREATENING ONE OF HOLLAND'S LARGEST PAINT AND LACQUER FACTORIES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PLANT, THE SIKKENS WORKS, SAID DAMAGE WAS EXPECTED TO RUN INT MANY MILLIONS OF GUILDER.

THE HAGUE FIRE BRIGADE, ABOUT 20 MILES (32 KILOMETRES) FROM THE FACTORY AND FIRE-FIGHTERS FROM SCHIPOL AIRPORT WERE CALLED I TO JOIN LOCAL BRIGADES FROM OEGSTGEEST AND LEIDEN. MEN AND EQUIPMENT WERE ALSO SENT FROM THE DUTCH NAVY AIRPORT BASE AT VALKENBURG.

TWO MEN WERE INJURED BY AND EXPLOSION BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FACTORY MANAGEMENT SAID TONIGHT THAT ONLY THE CELLULOSE PLANT AND DESPATCH DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN DESTROYED. THE REST OF THE FACTORY, WHICH EMPLOYS SOME 800 PEOPLE, WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE PRODUCTION.