ESCAPE FROM FLAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 437, 20 August 1928, Page 1

ESCAPE FROM FLAMES

WOMAN REACHES GROUND BY ROPE FIREMAN SEVERELY BURNED BIG FIRE AT PAPATOETOE (From Our Own Correspondent) PAPATOETOE, Monday. A large two-storeyed house of 13 rooms in Station Road East, Papatoetoe, owned and occupied by Mr. Ronald Corbett, was totally destroyed by fire at 3.30 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Corbett, who was alone in the house, was dressing in an upstairs room. She noticed smoke coming under the door and, on opening it, she discovered that the stairway was blazing furiously. She rushed out on to the balcony and lowered herself by a rope put there for the purpose. In the meantime a neighbour had given the alarm and the Papatoetoe Fire Brigade had arrived. As Mrs. Corbett reached the ground, halfhidden by the smoke which was pouring through a half-open French window on the ground floor, two men rushed forward and dragged her clear. They had hardly done so when the whole of the window burst open and flames poured out, severely burning Fireman Shortt, of Papatoetoe, on one side of his face and arm. By this time the whole building was a mass of flames, and the brigade, which is equipped with only a first-aid plant, as the district is not reticulated with water, had to confine its efforts to saving the Central Theatre, in course of erection near by. Flames were seen bursting through the ventilators on the roof of the theatre on several occasions, but members of the brigade were able to quell these with fire extinguishers. The Otahuhu Brigade also attended and assisted the local brigade in saving the theatre. The house had seven large rooms and kitchenette, in addition to which the ground floor housed an office, laundry, and dairy. The house was insured with the United Company for £ 2,500, and the furniture with the Guardian for £750. At the time of the fire Mr. Corbett was away at Ho wick, and did not return till the fire had almost burned itself out.