FIRE OUTBREAK

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 462, 2 July 1937, Page 4

FIRE OUTBREAK

BRIGADE’S GOOD SAVE A. & P. Association’s Offices Flames shooting through a skylight of the two-storey concrete building at the corner of Regan Street and Broadway, owned by Messrs Petries Ltd., were noticed by a railway locomotive driver about 4.50 o’clock this morning and it discovered by the Fire Brigade that the outbreak was located in the office premises of the Stratford Agricultural and Pastoral Association. By that time part of Khe furniture and appliances had been destroyed or damaged by smoke, but the brigade did excellent work in confining the fire to the corner of the building in which it originated and prevented the flames spreading through the ceiling. When the brigade arrived the Board meeting room wag, a mass of flame and the fire was spreading through the plaster ceiling. The floor and' walls are of concrete, but a wooden door which gave entrance to the offi.ee of the secretary, Mr W. F. Ross, was completely burned through. The damage to the office contents, however, was mainly due tu water and smoke. In the Board room a large table was burnt and r.upf., old records of the Association, and treasured photographs of past shows and officials of the Association were alto destroyed. The fire apparently originated in the ceiling of uia board r«.om. There Was no heating in the room other than a hot water system, and the room had not been used for a meeting during the evening. In the secretary’s office a stove is need but everything was left safe when the assist)?.nt, Miss B. Macalister, departed at 5 p.m. yesterday. Mr Roes was away canvassing in the afternoon, and contrary to his usu’al practice, did not visit the office in the evening. Until 9 p.m. Mr G. A. Carter was working in his office about 40 feet along a corridor and there was then no sign of fire, although apparently it was burning for a considerable time before discovery. For some time before the discovery, Mr C. Coldwell, who was working in his home cookery shop nearby could smell smoke, and eventually he went out and saw

the fiames coming thiough *he skylight. He w.s t bout to give the alarm when he saw the locomotivs driver running to the fire station. None of the shops on the ground floor was damaged, but some water came through an electrical conduit, pipe and ilooJod the premises of the Stratford Carrying Company. A stock of motor tyres was not affected by the water. The contents of th e A. and P. premises are covered by a policy of £l5O with the Victoria Insurance Company and the building is covered by a policy with the London and Lancashire Company.