INJURED BY FLAMES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20040, 12 September 1939, Page 7

INJURED BY FLAMES

MOTHER AND SONS The three occupants of a large 12roomed farmhouse on the A. C. Symes estate, about five miles from Whangarei, suffered from burns when the building was destroyed by fire on Saturday. Mrs. Symes was injured about tlie left leg, Mr. Harvey Symes suffered burns to the right hand and had to be admitted to the Whangarei Hospital for attention, and Mr. lan. Symes received injuries to the arms.

After dinner Mrs. Symes and her sons were sitting in a room at the front of the house when a noise in the kitchen attracted their attention. They found that the hot-water cylinder cupboard and the wall about it was ablaze. Their frantic effort's to extinguish the flames were fruitless and the Are spread rapidly to the rest of the room.

From there is swept through other parts of the house and all Mrs. Symes and her sons could do was to save a few personal belongings. The house was built of wooden shingles and so fast did the flames spread through it that neighbours who rushed to help could do nothing to arrest the outbreak.

Although there was little breeze, the fire spread to outbuildings close to the house, which were destroyed. Other small buildings farther away escaped undamaged. Mrs. Symes and her sons were injured while they were attempting to light the flames. Mrs. Symes and Mr. lan Symes were given attention outside their blazing home and were then able to go to a neighbour’s house l'or the rest of the night. The house and contents were insured but the amount is not available.