FIRE IN THYNNE STREET.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4532, 18 November 1930, Page 3

FIRE IN THYNNE STREET.

SIX ROOMED DWELLING

DAMAGED.

The six-roomed dwelling owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Parkes, of Tliynne Street, was damaged by (fire shortly after 11 o’clock yesterday, morning. The cause of the outbreak is a mystery, but the Itire apparently started on a couch in the front ball, which was almost completely destroyed. The flames evidently spread from this piece of furniture to the wall and thence to the ceiling.

The alarm was given by Mrs. •). M. Thomson, who noticed smoke issuing from the cages of the building, and it was astonishing bow quickly the brigade responded. Within a. few minutes the whole brigade, with the exception of two members, was on the scene and it was not long before the fire was got under control. When the front door was forced the hall was found to he a mass of (lames. These were subdued and the dam age, except for water, confined to this portion of the building. The ceiling and one wall were burnt llmnigli, but the other rooms practically escaped damage except for water and smoke. The furniture was removed as soon as the brigade arrived and thus escaped damage.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Parkes were al their business premises at the time of the outbreak and can throw no light on the cause of the fire.

Mr. G. Shaw, who was working on (he roof of Smith’s buildings, in Main Street, saw smoke - arising from the direction of Tliynne St. half an hour before the fire, but ’thought it was coming from a rubbish lire. Residents in the neighbourhood report having smelt something burning about the same time bill, it was not until I lie ala rm sounded, that they placed any significance on flic matter. The furniture and (‘fleets were insured for £3OO in (lie. Insurance Office of Australia and there was £BOO on the building in the same olliteo. Yesterday afternoon Mi-. W. Jack, Inspector of: the "Horowhemia Power Board visited Foxton for the purpose of testing out the electrical installation in the house. He discovered everything satisInctorv and it lias now been definitely established that the fire occurred in the couch in the hail and was possibly caused from a spark from Mr. Darke’s pipe as he left the front door for work in the morning. A strong westerly wind was blowing which would cause the ash to drop in the direction of the couch when the door was opened.