EPIDEMIC OF FIRES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 171, 10 October 1927, Page 9

EPIDEMIC OF FIRES

SIX IN WEEK-END TWO HOUSES DESTROYED A house, owned and occupied by ' Mr. Knight, of Norwood Avenue, Bayswatcr, was burned to the ground a little after 11 p . m . yesterday. Nothing was saved. AND MRS. KNIGHT were awakened by dense smoke and heat, and were lorced to escape in their night attire. Both the Takapuria and the Bayswater Volunteer Fire Brigades were soon on the scene, but were unable to put out the blaze with the only lead of hose they could, bring into action. NORTHCOTE HOUSE DESTROYED An eight-roomed house in Lake Road. North cote, owned by Mr. Adams, of Takapuna, and occupied by Mrs. K. M. Brown, was completely destroyed at about 9 o’clock last evening. The Northcote Volunteer Fire Brigade turned out, but owing to the distance of the house from a fire-plug, was unable to extinguish the flames. No one was in the house at the time of the outbreak. Mrs. Brown had gone out for a few’ minutes leaving a small fire burning in the front room. The house burned fiercely, the glare of the fire being seen in the city. Mrs. Brown lost everything, including several pieces of jewellery and important legal documents. The loss is estimated at about £7OO. Insurance figures are not available. MINOR OUTBREAKS The Devonport Fire Brigade was called out at 11.40 p.m. on Sunday to a wash-house* on the property of Mr. Williams in Tainui Road. The damage was confinsd to a pile of washing in one corner of the room. A passer-by noticed the flames and gave the alarm. A shop and workroom on the first floor of the Newton Arcade, Karangahape Roacl, occupied by Mr. James; Rasmussen, saddler, was badly damaged by fire shortly after *2 o’clock this morning. The building is insured for £ 1,200 with the Ocean, Accident and Guarantee Corporation, and the stock was insured for £2OO with the same company. A gorse fire on the City Council reserve at Fo.lktown Street in the early afternoon vesterday was easily extinguished by two firemen of the City Brigade., Little damage was done. A c-himaey-Are at a five-roomed house in O’Mara Street, Remuera, led to a call being given to the City Bri - gade at 6.23 p.m. yesterday. The house, which, is owned and occupied by Mr. G. R. Vannatyne, is insured for £BOO and the contents are insured for £3OO both with the New Zealand Insurance Company. A grass fire in Rob Roy Street, Mount Albert, led to a. call being received by the Mount Albert Brigade shortly after noon yesterday. The fire soon burned itself out. At 8.30, a false alarm was received from a box in the Haverstock Road, Edendale. A bonfire on a property in Hill Street, Mount Eden, was mistaken by several residents for a, house on fire. The brigade was notified accordingly and turned out promptly, only to discover that a mistake had been ma.de.