FREAK FIRE WELDS POST TO ROOF

Chronicle (Levin), 9 January 1948, Page 3

FREAK FIRE WELDS POST TO ROOF

WELLINGTON, Jan. 8. An unusual lire occurred in George and George 's shop, Riddiford Street, next to the Newtown School, at 10.24 a.m. today, when a stay.wire holding the overhead tram wires snapped. Oue end of the wire fell across the overhead wires, and the other on to the shop's verandah making it ' ' alive ' '. The current was carried -from the tram wires to the shop's switch board bv the electric supply lines. The heavy current set lire to the switch board, burning out the wiring. I Where the wire hit the veraadah roof it acted as a welding torch. It is estimated that over 2000 degrees were generated and an iron telegraph pole through the verandah roof was welded to the iron of the roof, The current from the tram wires was also carried by an eartk wire to the back of the adjoining shop, where the roof began to smoulder. The lire in the switchboard quickly emptied the shop of customers. A shop assistant threw buckets of water on to it, but the fire was not extinguished until two mackines from the Constable Street Fire Station arrived. Four machines from the Central Fire Station also answerea the call, but when the nature of the fire was discovered they returned to the station. Two tramways repair trucks were quickly on the scene, and the wire was removed from the roof and another piece replaced in its former position. Tram traffic was not held up for more than a few minutes.