FIRE AT OTAKI

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2167, 4 June 1914, Page 5

FIRE AT OTAKI

' jTHE HOSPITAL IN DANGER. .A serious fire occurred at tho Hospital block, Otuki, yesterday afternooii and resulted in the destruction of a t>rooinud wooden building, which very fortunately happened to bo fully detached from the Hdspital itself. Tho main building was threatened for sonio littlo time, but the wind, which was blowing in a favourable direction, helped , to keep tho flames off and tho services : of a bucket brigade were sufficient to ■ save tho- situation. The building, which was destroyed, was one of the more recent additions to tho blocks-having been erected about threo or four years ago.' It comprised a" porter's room, maids' sleeping room, maids' sitting "room, and two store rooms. Prior to the outbreak the porter had been in tho building and when ho left for lunch at about ono o'clock 'there was a-iiro in tho grato in his room. Soiiio 15 or 20 minutes later, ono of tho patients observed smoke coming from the annexe and the.alarm was_ raised. .'By that time.flames wcro coming from the 5-roomed building and . in.tho absouco of fire brigado and 'water «pressuro the task of saving it was impossible. Tho question was: Could the main building be saved? Many of the residents of tho town ivero' at tho racecourse at tho time, but a'few willing helpers wcro soon on ■ the scene and a bucket brigado was organised by Dr. Huthwaito (superintendent), Mr. W. M'Kegg (chairman of the Town Board) ■ , and Constable Longbottom. As ft precaution against the worst that might happen, a few ■ of tho patients.were.removed,from tho Hospital and tho remainder were prepared for any emergency--that might •'■ arise, so that from tho ..first thcro was - ! uio danger to life..- Tfe outer wall, ad- ■ jacont to'-tho burnins ibuilding, was , then kept cool by means of wet sacks, wet blankets and buekots of water. Tina protection was maintained until about a quarter past 2 o'clock by which time i the firo bad,burned down and danger ~.was at an end. Tho wall of the hosrj'pital was badly scorched and will need slight repairs and painting. But for the good work dono b> tho little band of volunteers tho building would probably have been destroyed along with" tho annexe. . \ ... ;Whilo the fife lasted, it caused considerable excitement, not only in the . township, but also on tlio racqeourse, to where tho news had drifted. There was a rumour on the courso that tho Hospital had boon destroyed and all the patients shifted, but later this was . proved to bp incorrect. The fire is believed to have been caused by the wind blowing eparks out of tho fire in tho porter's room. Ine. Hospital Board's loss is covered by insurance, the building beimz insured i? tho State Office and the South British Office. Tho amounts could not be escertamed last night.