THRILLING FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1930, Page 1

THRILLING FIRE

BIG AUCKLAND BLAZE, By Telegraph—Per Press Association.! AUCKLAND, Aug. 20. A destructive fire occurred in the :ity late this afternoon, when the threestoreyed brick factory of the Plummer brick factory of the Plummer Hat Coy. Ltd. was destroyed, together with the Uoek and machinery, the total damage being estimated at eighteen thousand pounds. The fire provided one of the most spectacular outbreaks here for many years, lor the lla.mes spread with amazing rapidity and the lire burned for about two hours. Tfc was also a mot thrilling blaze, for at first the lives of seventy employees wore endangered. v

A. terrifying experience befell the girls and women who were at work in the factory when the fire broke out. An escape by the stairway was impossible, because the scat of the. outbreak was on the ground floor, close to the main entrance. For the majority, the only way out was through the first flooi window® at the front of the building. Urged on by the menace of the quickly spreading flames, many of the girls fell in trying to negotiate the fire escape vertical iron ladder, or jumped frojn the windows.

For a few minutes the scene was one of terror-stricken haste and confusion, with burins, bruises, cuts, concussion and shock. Nearly twenty of the girls were in a condition requiring first aid. But for the splendid efforts made by the firemen and 33 voluntary helpers, who were- promptly on the scene, the consequences for many of the occupants of the blazing building, would have been far more serious. None of the 120 girls were seriously injured. Many of the workers were able to get out quickly, but the plight of more than half the girls who were at the front of the building was very different. Dense volumes of smoke quickly followed by flames, barred their way across the' landing to gain the rear windows. Their way to safety lay down the fire escape ladder in the centre of the front wall, hut in a few moments the flames were leaping out of the main doorway below, and were enveloping the foot of this ladder. The firemen spread a sheet for the girls to jump into, when they were still crowded at the head of the ladder with flames threatening to cut them off. Some of the most serious injuries wero caused by several of the girls being knocked from the ladder by others who jumped. The fire escape became unusable before all the inmates of the blazing building'had made their exit. The rapid spread of the flames increased the difficulties of the firemen, and one party had to make a. huirried rush to safety when one of the walls collapsed on the roadway. It is estimated that the total loss is £IB,OOO, the stock and plant being worth £14,000. The insurances on the stock* total £9,000 and those on the building £4OOO.