Fire in Patea.

Patea Mail, 24 February 1882, Page 3

Fire in Patea.

The fire-bell alarmed the townspeople last evening about half-past six, a fire being a rarity in Patea. The stable at the rear of the Police Station was seen to be on fire, a cloud of dense smoke issuing from the building, with very little flame visible.

The stable had contained a large stock of old hay which had been there more than a year, and the fire broke out in a curious manner. Constable Crozier had returned with a horse about half-past six, and put it in the stable, closing the door. In ten minutes an alarm of fire was raised by passers-bye, the bell was rung, the Brigade mustered rapidly, bringing the engine, and a scrambling attempt was made by too many people to connect the hose-pipe. Eager helpers rushed about and knocked against each other ; some belonging to the Brigade, and many who did not, but most of them getting in each other’s way for want of system and coolness. Two large tanks were handy, but the hose as first connected was too short to reach the doorway of the burning stable, where a little water played in early would have been effective. When a longer hose had been laid after much rushing and a confused waste of energy, the couplings would not fit, and more delay ensued. Then a plank was torn away at the side of the stable, and the short hose was got into play, the flame then disappearing rapidly. Buckets were next passed along a line of hands, some helpers thinking it good fun to thi’ow empty buckets at the man who wasn’t looking the right away. The stable door being then opened, Captain Gibbons (Patea steamer) went in and boldly threw water into the lingering fire ; his brother Hope and some others giving effective help. That ended the danger. Several buckets of water had been thrown in at the doorway before the hose jet was played through the wall, but the fire was then too fierce to be so easily subdued. Captain Dixon was absent from Patea. Mr Heron took an active direction. There were too many captains, and the spectators made confusion worse by crowding in upon the workers. The County Council Chambers were within a few yards, -in a line with the wind, and if the stable had.contained anything more inflammable than hay, which in itself made little blaze, the Council building would have been in imminent danger, it having a shingle roof. . Mr Black, County Clerk,: was on the spot removing papers and properties. The Eire Brigade is clearly an indispensable body in Patea, and the public should encourage it as an:important institution. Its presence saved the shell of the building, which at the first seemed very unlikely. This small fire will be useful in showing the Brigade what are the conditions of successful work. All the men should wear helmets, the captain’s being distinct from the rest ; and the spectators at a fire would then know who are firemen, and would make way for them. The couplings of the hose pipes should be so marked as to be known at a glance ; not depending on a trial of sizes, but marked say with colored bands, each size being distinctly colored. There should be bandages handy fo mend bursts when a pipe gives way.

It is still a mystery how the fire originated. Constable Crozier is not a smoker, and cannot be supposed to have struck a match. It was daylight when he put the horse in about half-past six. The hay had been stored there so long as to preclude the theory of spontaneous combustion through heating in a damp state. He appears as unable as others to account for the fire. Sergeant Donovan was getting tea at the time. No one else was seen about.