SPECTACULAR BLAZE AT LEVIN TRAINING CENTRE

Chronicle (Levin), 1 October 1947, Page 4

SPECTACULAR BLAZE AT LEVIN TRAINING CENTRE

Building and Valuable Equipment Lost Apparently originating in a garage at the eastern entl, fire swept through a large wooden building at the Levin Boys' Traininr Centre last night, destroying it completely. The building, which was 150 feet by 30 feet, comprised a garage, store, technical workshop and draughting room. It. fcad only recently been remodelled. The fire was first seen by- the night watchman, Mr. R. S. May, who gave the alarm. In the words of Mr. May the flames had a firm grip of the garage portion, and were "belching up towards the roof." The manager of the centre, Mr. E. J. Stanley, assisted by Mr. A. Fife and other members of the staff, quickly organised the boys, and every effort was made to save the building while ■ awaiting the arrival of the fire brigade from Levin. Entering the building, they managed to save some equipment but the bulk of it, believed to be of considerable value, was lost. Oh arrival the brigadesmen could do little, there being no high pressure water supply at the institution. The flames spread rapidly, defying the strenuous efforts of the staff, inmates and brigadesmen to suppress them with bucket pumps, extinguishers and a small domestic hose.^ Within a short period the building was a blazing inferno. As it was apparent that further efforts would be futile, attehtion was directed to soaking nearby buildings in an effort to prevent their becoming endangered by the heat and sparks. Included in the equipment known to have been destroyed was a three ton truck, three new one h.p.

eiectric motors, and countless. carpentry tools. ■ A valiant attempt on the part of Fireman A. Mudgway to salvage a portion of the machinery in the blazing building nearly cost him his life. As he endeavoured to clrag a saw bench out into the open he found himself caught between two other benches. At this moment one of the walls began to sag. Three "firemen saw his plight and climbed over the obstruction to asSist him out of the building. ^ The most spectacular fire in the \ | district for a number of years, it illuminated the sky, casting a red glare which could be seen from as far south as Otaki. Within a few minutes of the alarm being raised, a large crowd had gathered and this was supplemented by many carloads of Levin and surrounding district residents. Sports Pavilion Endangered A sports pavilion, which is being built by the boys for the Horowhenua Softball Association's new . ground in Levin, was standing in a partially eompleted state only a few feet from the blazing building. Only by the untiring work of the boys and staff, and later the brigadesmen, was the building saved. It escaped with only a slight charring of a few of the boards nearest the flames. Damage In Vicinity Of £6000 This morning the area was still smouldering, there being little left but a heap of ashes and charred machinery. It is understood ■ that the total loss will be in the vicinity of £6000. The fire will mean a severe setback to the development of the centre. The building was removed from the old Air Force station in 1940 and was built of fifty-year-old heart rimu. Valuable architectural plans and flies and records of'the inmates for the past 40 years have been destroyed.