AUCKLAND BLAZE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1933, Page 6

AUCKLAND BLAZE

FIRMS SUFFER HEAVY LOSS

IGNITED MATCHBOX IN STRAW

(Per Pre s 3 Association, Copyright),

AUCKLAND, October 17

Five engines au<l over forty firemen were 'required at one stage to subdue an outbreak which luoeu-rml about ten o’clock yesterday might in a live storey Norfolk building at the corner of Albert 'and Dwrisjun streets. Three linns suffered •considerable lus« •by lire or water. These wore Burns, Somerville, (Ltd., merchants ■ Reid and Twenty me, Ltd., .manufacturers’ .agon Is; and ... A. Smi.ih and Co. Ltd.

A loud explosion followed shortly after the arrival of the brigadesmeu, believed La be duo to spirits in a large drum on the premises of the iirst named firm, where the five started. Several fireman were fortunate fo escape injury.

The outbreak was almost eon.tolled when at 10.30 p.m. . liames broke out in another corner >of the building and spread irapidly. The fire superintendent then called for reinforcements and it, was 11.30 p.m. before the outbreak' was finally controlled. Fortunately the night was calm and die adjoining buildings were not endangered. The firemen, however, worked at considerable peril j ;YI the thick smoke and •fierce (flames. Some of them worked their way to an urn occupied top storey, which was undamaged, and moved about nil the floor above the flames raging in the fourth. One man, R. Lun,n, 23, had his hand severely cut when dozens of window .panes, blown out by the explosion, crashed to the street' below.

•Mr W. V. Bunns', manr.ging director of Burns, Somerville, said the whole of the outbreak was caused when 'he snapped .a. match 'box shut, and the matches ignited. He dropped the burning box and it. fell into some fine straw. His efforts to 'beat out the flames seemed to give them a better grip. His firm had moved into the building only last Friday, and he and a carpenter were working last night. He (attempted to telephone the brigade, but ■ was unable to find the telephone book, and had to run up the street to find an alarm box. Both lie and the carpenter, named Wilson, .were scorched and their hair was singed.

The damage by fire and wafer is rjsT,invited |a.t £7000! Reid and Twinarne’s stock and fittings were insured • for. £6250 .with the British Office, and •graders’ goods held om 'consignment were also insured. Burns, Somerville's stock \va,s insured for £IOOO, with a Loyal exchange policy, taken out only yesterday, following the firm’s removal to Lew premises.