FIRE IN ORPHANAGE

Chronicle (Levin), 11 December 1946, Page 5

FIRE IN ORPHANAGE

- Press A.ssociation

Sixty Girls lake Hurried Escape d1ffkulties of brigade '

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Dec. 11. Sixty girls at ' St. Joseph's Drphanage, Upper Hutt, escaped in .heir night attire with only a few .lcthes when flre destroyed the irphanage in the early hours of this .norning. ' Fanned by a fnll gale, and with a .ow water pressure handicapping ihe firemen, the fire quickly turned ihe big brick buiiding into a gutted jhell, but owing to a prompt wiarning by the Revqrend Mother, all the orphans and six of the staff escaped vithout injury. The chapel and adjoining blocks yere saved. But for the poor presture' in -the Upper Hutt mains, origadesmen believe they would have saved the block. It was not until a landline of hose had been run 700 yards to the principal water main that a sufficient pressure was obtained to tackle the job Ihoroughly. . By that time it was too late. Ranging in age from five to fifteen, -the girls who were sleeping in the block acted quietly and proinnt!y at the bidding of the sisters. The evacuation was orderly and withouA any sign of panic.