Sydney Fire Proves Not So Big

Grey River Argus, 2 September 1948, Page 10

Sydney Fire Proves Not So Big

SYDNEY, August 31 Prompt action by the brigades today helped to reduce to moderate proprotions what at first threatened to be one of Sydney’s biggest fires in years. The fire is believed to have started on the top floor of an old fivestoreyed building known as Rawson Chambers, at the corner of Rawson Place and Pitt Street, when an electric spark set alight to stored jute. In a few minutes flames were shooting high into the air, cascades of sparks were endangering nearby offices, and the southern end of the city was hidden in smoke. Hundreds of occupants fled as fire rapidly claimed most of the two top floors. Luckily nobody was trapped, but the wife of the caretaker, Mrs Edna Austin, suffered burns and singed hair when she ran through the flames to rescue her four-year-old son. All the city brigades were quickly on the spot and soon 100 firemen with four extension ladders and a maze of hoses were pouring water down into the flames at the rate of 5000 gallons a minute. The police radio network brought 200 police to the scene to hold back the crowds. Within 90 minutes the fire was under control. The damage by fire is estimated at £lO,OOO, and damage by water is possibily £20,000.