FIRE AT HOTEL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 166, 3 April 1939, Page 2

FIRE AT HOTEL

MAN NEARLY SUFFOCATED GUEST’S PROMPT- ACTION A. narrow- escape from suffocation while he was sleeping, was experienced. bv a Public Works employee, Mr. Mac Merriman, in til© early hours of Sunday morning, at the Masonic Hotel. Alt’. Merriman had apparently fallen asleep in bed while smoking and his room was dense with smoke when another guest, Mr. lleg. Anderson, discovered the fire. Mr. Anderson was about to enter his room, some distance down the passage-way when the smell of burning attracted,.his attention. Oji walking to fbe end of the passage, Air. Anderson found the smell stronger and could hear a man coughing in one of the rooms. When the door of the room was opened, Air. Anderson was confronted! with a dense -cloud of smoke and he had great difficulty in rousing the man, who was half suffocated, from his smouldering bed. Air. Andersen then proceeded to subdue the fire with'buckets of water and by the time the alarm waV raised and the brigade arrived!, the fire was extinguished. The bedding was badly burned while the bedstead and floor wore scorched. Tiie ceiling of the commercial room winch is situated below was damaged by water, and water also fell on the furniture and carpets. Air. Merriman received! only- slight burns!