FIRE IN HOTEL

Evening Star, Issue 22461, 5 October 1936, Page 8

FIRE IN HOTEL

YOUNG GIRLS NEARLY TRAPPED BUILDING TOTALLY DESTROYED [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, October 4, Two young girls narrowly escaped with their lives when the Kamo Hotel, about three miles from Whangarei, was totally destroyed by fire last night. Practically all the contents _ of the building were lost. The two gins were Jean Brydon, aged 12, and Valma Brydon, aged eight, daughters of the owner ana licensee, Mr W« J. Brjdon. . . The children were in their room on the second story shortly after 8 o’clock preparing for bed when the elder sister said she oould smell smoke. They saw wisps of smoke coming through the floor, and, becoming alarmed, began to scream. Mrs Brydon, who came in response to the children’s cries, could see no signs of fire, but the children, who were barefooted, complained that the floor was becoming hot. . An investigation by Mr Brydon revealed that a large hot water cupboard in the kitchen immediately below the bedroom had burst into flames, and the room above was soon blazing. The children escaped in their night attire. Had the thin wisps of smoke not been noticed before the children put out the light they would have been trapped. As there is no water supply or fir® brigade in Kamo, the Whangarei brigade had to be summoned, and, though it was soon on the scene, the flames had gained a strong hold and the building was destroyed. A shop about 25yds away was scorched along the side, and 13 main power lines between Auckland, Whangarei, and the Far North were interrupted through, nearby power lines beginning to burn. The Post and Telegraph Department, however, sent a gang of men to the scene, and communication was restored at 10 o’clock this morning. The building was insured for £3,270, the furniture and personal effects for £SOO, and a stack of hay ' for £4OO-r-all with the United Office.