A WESTPORT FIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1917, Page 3

A WESTPORT FIRE.

WESTPORT. Dee. 17th. The house adjoining St. Andrew’s Church. Wakefield Street, owned by Mr R. ,T. Mouafc. Peel Street, and occupied by Nurse Regan, had a narrow eseapo from destruction by fire yesterday afternoon. Mr. Collins, shortly after five o’clock noticed smoke issued from the kitchen window and gave the alarm, and with -Messrs Eddy, E. McDonald, J. Marker and others immediately formed themselves into a bucket brigade and after a strenuous fight, with the aid of Captain Powell’s garden hose, they succeeded in overcoming the fire. No one wa« at, home when the outbreak occurred. Nurse Regan had gone out to answer an urgent call, and the girl in charge after placing a jug with milk in a! saucepan of water, turned the gas on to a ring to scald the milk. She left the House and forgot to turn the gas out and the bracket on which the ring was standing apparently caught fire and the fire quickly ran up the wall and across the coiling, and also burnt its way into the bathroom. It was fortunate that it was discovered early, as, with a few minutes more uncontrolled, the fire would have quickly demolished the building. Air. Mouat.had £275 on the house in one of the offices for which Bailie and Co., Ltd., are agents, but Nurse Regan is unfortunate in not having a penny of insurance on the contents.