CUT OFF BY FLAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 515, 19 November 1928, Page 16

CUT OFF BY FLAMES

- BLAZING STAIRWAY ISOLATES FAMILY i FIRE AT CHRISTCHURCH Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. Cut off from safety by a blazing stairway, the caretaker of the Chamber of Commerce Building, Mr. Dow, and his family had a narrow escape this morning. Mr. Dow was confined to his bed as j tho result of an accident, but on being | wakened by clouds of smoke in the j room he aroused his wife, his two daughters and his son. « When Mr. Dow opened the door of i tho kitchen which led to the stairway I volumes of smoke and flame poured through, cutting off this avenue of escape. The younger girl, aged 14. was burned on one shoulder and arm by the flames which belched from the stairway. Mr. Dow found his way to the roof through a manhole in the passage ceiling. He and his daughter were finally rescued by the fire brigade by means of a ladder from the roof. His wife and other children made their escape by means of a ladder from a bedroom window Mr. Dow was later removed to hos-p-ital, but the child who had been burned suffered little ill-effects from her injury. - The damaged portion of the build- : ing was that occupied by the caretaker ; and his family. Water saturated many , cilices on the ground floor, and it is ex- : pected it will be some days before j these offices will again be fit for use. i The amount of th* damage, which is fairly extensive, is not yet ascertain- | able. The building was insured in the i • iSouth British Office for £4,000 and the ! • contents for £ 800.