LUNA PARK FIRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 267, 1 February 1928, Page 11

LUNA PARK FIRE

“RAILWAY STATION’’ BURNED EARLY MORNING OUTBREAK For the second time within a year Luna Park has suffered damage by fire. An outbreak occurred shortly before 6 o’clock this morning resulting in the desruction of the scenic railway station. The damage is estimated at between £1,500 and £2,000. TVTHILE making his rounds at 5.55 ** a.m. the night-watchman, Mr. W. Churchill, noticed smoke and flames issueing from the station building. He endeavoured to suppress the fire by means of chemical apparatus, but the outbreak began to assume formidable proportions despite the liquid sprayed on the flames. Mr. Churchill then rang the alarm to the Central Fire Station from a box installed in the park. Arriving promptly the brigade had the fire under control within a few minutes. Built of light timber the station burned rapidly and was soon gutted. Two “trains” standing at the platform were destroyed, but the railway track was not greatly damaged. Beyond charring, little structural injury was done to this portion of the system, and the renewal of a few braces will put the railway in running order. The manager, Mr. A. M. Pickford, can offer no explanation of the cause of the fire. He is emphatically of opinion that the electrical installation was not responsible. A new type of shut-down switch which locks automatically cuts off the power supply throughout the park after the show concludes each evening. He himself saw this done last night. Mr. Pickford said that after an examination he could find no suspicious circumstances in connection with the outbreak. Profiting by the disastrous fire on the night of the arrival in Auckland of the Duke of York, when damage to the extent of £14,000 was caused, the management had a private alarm box installed in the park grounds. But for this a repitition of last year’s blaze would certainly have occurred. Luna Park will be open as usual this evening and it is hoped to have the railway in working order in the course of a few days.