FIRE IN SHOW TRUCK CAUSES SERIOUS LOSSES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 3, 24 June 1949, Page 5

FIRE IN SHOW TRUCK CAUSES SERIOUS LOSSES

Losses running into hundreds of pounds face Mr P. H. Richards, of Auckland, side show proprietoi’, consequent upon a fire in one of his trucks outside the Winter Show building on Wednesday night. Yesterday, Mr Richards could not calculate just what the outbreak had cost him, but there is no doubt his loss will be considerable.

Fire from a still unexplained cause broke out in the back of the truck between 10.10 and 10.20 on Wednesday night, and soon got a good grip of the tents, show stock and clothing which. had not then been unpacked for the show. Flames flared skywards from the canvas canopy of the truck as showmen and bystanders battled against the fire with extinguishers, buckets of water and even the tea and coffee from

the refreshment stall nearby. Tents endangered by the blaze were laid over out of harm’s way, and the fire was kept from spreading until the Fire Brigade arrived. In a matter of seconds the standpipe was up and the lead out, but an apparent blockage at the plug delayed the water for a. minute or two.

After that, it was soon over. Checking the damage yesterday, Mr Richards said he had lost one marquee worth £l5O, several smaller tents, wire walking gear, vital parts of a merry-go-round, 10,000 rounds of miniature rifle ammunition, trick cycle and wire Avalking gear, and miscellaneous items of clothing and equipment. In addition to that, a generator plant had been damaged by water, and a 5 h.p. engine and three rifles damaged to an extent as yet unchecked. Perhaps most serious of all from his point of view is the loss of revenue from the shows he will not now be able to be present.

Some, but not all, of the ruined gear was insured.