A PLUCKY SAVE.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 246, 19 July 1928, Page 4

A PLUCKY SAVE.

PUTARURU FIRE. In Stationer’s Shop. On Saturday morning, about 11 o’clock, an oil stove exploded in the premises of Mr. A. Scrinigeour, fruiterer and stationer, Princes street, Putaruru, causing much damage to stock and fittings. The stove, which had previously shown no signs of erratic behaviour, was kept in a room at the back of the shop which was used as a storeroom and office. The flames fed by the oil quickly spread and emitted dense volumes of black smoke, which hindered any attempt at salvage operations.

The alarm was quickly raised, and Mr. F. C. Flyger and his staff, who were at work on Messrs. McDermott Bros.’ new building next door, were on the scene within a few minutes. By this time the flames, which had spread with lightning rapidity amongst the stock of stationery and other highly combustible materials, had a good hold, and the storeroom window had blown out.

Very pluckily, and at great personal risk, Mr. Flyger entered the building, while his men handed buckets of water from an adjacent tank to him through the broken window. Some idea of the plucky mamjer in which Mr. Flyger stuck to his self-imposed task was gained by an inspection of the room after the fire had been put cut. Practically all around the four walls there is very plain evidence of the extent of the fire, the only portion not charred and burned luckily being near the window where there was little fuel for the fire with the exception of the window frames. On the mantelpiece adjoining the window everything was destroyed, while on all the shelves and hooks whick cover every portion of the remaining space on the four walls of the room everything was burned or damaged. But for Mr. Flyger sticking to it at a critical time there is no question but that the fire would have spread to the outer shop, and his work in putting out the fire in the confined space of a room approximately 15ft x Bft, is worthy of the highest praise.

The damage caused by the fire is estimated to be in the vicinity of £IOO, and is covered by insurance. While the fire was at its height and the front shop was full of smoke a sneak thief took advantage of the conditions to run behind the counter and take some £3 from the till. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police.