NOW IN RUINS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18903, 19 January 1927, Page 10

NOW IN RUINS.

SALVATION ARMY HOME.

PLUG AND HYDRANT BUNGLE.

[THE PEESS Special Sorvice.]

AUCKLAND, January IS

The main 'building of the Salvation Army Industrial Home, providing accommodation for about 40 men, and situated in Williamson street, One Tree Hill, close to tho junction of the Great South road and Manukau road, was completely gutted by fire shortly after 3 o'clock this afternoon. Tho 'ire broke out lr. a let l n- to kitchen at the back of the premises. The chimneys were swept immediately ajter lunch, '-the fires being extinguished. Before leaving, the sweep lib the tire in the kitchen, remarking, "I'll see how she goes." About l'o or 20 minutes later the cook observed that tho room was filling with smoke, and on looking up, ho saw flames coining through cracks in tho wall above the mantelpiece Ho dashed a bucket of water on the wall and then ran to give the alarm. The flames spread with amazing rapidity through tho building, which' is an old wooden one of two storeys, and contained 10 rooms, including one largo dormitory with 17 beds. \Vhen tho Brigade arrived the P.amcs and smoke were pouring from practically all tho windows j Plugs and Hydrants. The building is close to tho boundary of One Tree Hill and Remuera districts, which are divided by the Great South road, but the call was first sent by telephone to the Parneli Brigade. It was then sent to the Remuera Brigade, and both brigades turned out. A little later an alarm box on the Reuiuera side of the Great South road was broken and an engine was then sent out from the City Fire Station. When tho brigades arrived, however, they found that the firo was in the One Tree Hill district, which is provided with fire plugs smaller than tho standard size. The hydrsnts of the | three brigades are of standard size and would not fit the plugs. Fortunately the Parneli Brigado had a double hydrant of the smaller size, and from this two leads of hose were played on tho flames and brought the fire under control in a short time. The fire had such a good hold when the brigades arrived that the result would, it is said, have been praoticaUy the same had more leads of hose been available. The One Tree Hill Brigade received a belated call som" time later and arrived on the scene when the fire had been extinguished. Heavy Destruction.

The interior of the building was gutted, but the walls remained standing. Almost the whole of vho roof was burned through,. and all tho furniture, hvcluding blankets and bedding was destroyed. At the timo of the outbreak there were only four or five persons in' the building, most of the occupants being absent at work.

The problem of providing accommodation for the men who oocupiect the rooms in the main building caused the authorities of the Saltation Army soine concern, but it was -thought that room would be found for most of them in the meantime in annexes which are usually occupied by another 30. men. The building was insured.