FIRE AT TE AWANGA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 83, 24 April 1937, Page 5

FIRE AT TE AWANGA

Damage Estimated at Nearly £790 NEW CAR DESTROYED Fire completely destroyed a motor^ shed! and car, the property of Mr J. R. " Sloan, at his seaside residence at Te Awanga last evening. Ifc is estimated that the damage was in the vicinity of £700 and might have been greater, for two nearby houses were endangered. Shortly after 8 o 5elock Mr Sloan went to the car-shed and, when he left everything appeared in order. However, just on 9 o5clock he happened to look from a window of his residence and saw flames coming from the shed. He immediately xaised a general alatm, but it was obvious that the fire had obtained a very strong hold. With the aid of an eleetrie pump and garden hoses, together wxth a hucket brigade formed by other residents, the. eafeguarding of Mr Sloan's residence, which is 10 feet from the -car-shed, and also that of Mr F. Rogers on the adjoining section, was given first consideration. The fire blazed for well over an hour and the shed and its valuable contents were reduced to a ruin, The nearby buildings, however, were saved from serious damage, thongh they were somewhat sCorched by the terrific heat. ' Two dogs were in the ehed at the time of the fire, but they were released when Mr Sloan opened the baek door, when he first diseovered the outbreak* Neither animal was injured. The contents of the shed ineluded an almost new car eosting £455 in January last, and in addition Mr Sloan had a' number of other valuable articles and goods an the 3bed, these being stored there during his and his family 's ab8ence from their residence in Hastings. Everything was completely destroyed, the car being a t&ngled mass of iroa this morning.