FIRE CHIEF’S STORY’

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 157, 29 March 1939, Page 10

FIRE CHIEF’S STORY’

Driven From Blazing Building NO CHANCE FROM OUTSET All Available Engines And Men In Service "When we arrived at Victoria House the fire was already well established and breaking out on all floors," said Mr. C. A. Woolley, superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, in an interview at the scene. "I immediately gave the brigade call, and we put three deliveries inside the building. But the flames were leaping ahead of us and spreading so rapidly that by the time 1 reached the sixth floor they were bursting through the roof. Lt was impossible to hold our ground and we were compelled to retire to the outside."

The alarm was given at. (1.59 p.m., when a telephone call was received at Central Station, continued Mr. Woolley. It. was answered immediately by tlie flying squad, and three minutes later tlie brigade call went through to all stations. Every available unit was pressed into service, and within a short time of the first alarm nine machines and about 80 firemen were engaged in lighting the flames. The lire, lie believed, originated in tlie lift well of Victoria House. The flames spread so rapidly that even when the flying squad arrived Haines were mushrooming through the seven floors of the tall building and longues of flanie were leaping and curling from tlie broken windows. Firemen, in spite of Hie terrific heat, entered the building immediately. The Hanies going ahead of us quicker than we could stop them,” said Mr. Woolley, when refer ring to the rapid spread of I he lire. Forced to leave the blazing building, the brigade organized a concent rated effort from the outside and four deluge set. streams, using Ijim nozzles, were played on Victoria House from Victoria Street. At Hie same time a deluge set stream and several working deliveries were operated as covering streams from Chews Lane, and deliveries were taken over the roofs of buildings fronting Willis Street.

A narrow light well, about 3ft. Gin. wide, and separating the rear of Victoria House from Jlalleiistein Bros.’ building in Willis Street, was one of the brigade’s gravest problems. Too confined for the firemen to work in. it provided an easy outlet for the inferno in Victoria House to spread to tlie adjoining building, and in spite of the brigade’s almost superhuman efforts the three floors of Hallenstcin Bros.’ building were soon alight. At one stage the whole of Willis Street appeared to be in danger. Flames and sparks burst from the top floor of 1 lallenstein Brothers’ building, but almost immediately a section of the brigade was concentrating on the fresh outbreak. Deliveries were played on eaelr floor simultaneously, and, in spite of the narrow and confined spaces, and Hie danger of falling beams and limbers. tiremen worked from inside the building. The top floors were gutted, but tlie flames were checked. A feature of the outbreak which was commented upon by -Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the 'Wellington Fire Board, and the Minister of Education, Mr. Fraser, who witnessed the fire, was tlie efficiency and organization of the brigade. The opinion wa's freely expressed that if it had not been for the combined efforts of Wellington’s fire-fighting units a much more serious conflagration would have resulted. INJURED FIREMEN Two Slightly Hurt That only two firemen were injured, both slightly, was a tribute to Hie skill with which the blaze was fought, as danger faced the fire-fighters on all sides. Fireman L. Richardson, of the Brooklyn brigade, was overcome by smoke and was admitted to the Wellington Public Hospital. His condition was reported lust night to be quite satisfactory. Fireman .1. Dale, of Thorndon Brigade received cuts to his hand from Hying glass. He was treated as an outpatient and discharged. A woman bystander received burns when a piece of burning paper fell on her bead, singeing her hair and burning the back of her head. She received medical treatment. .