FIRE IN DEVON ST.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1919, Page 4

FIRE IN DEVON ST.

FURNITURE WAREHOUSE ABLAZE. OTHER BUILDINGS DAMAGED. A fire of greater magnitude than usual for New Plymouth broke out in Devon; Street at about 10.15 last night in th»j premises of Messrs Petty Bros., furniture warehousemen. Thick smoke was seen issuing from the building before the alarm was giveiy and the occupants of the adjoining* building (Mr. Brandon Haughton and family) were startled by a dull roar while they were entertaining some friends. On looking out into the street/Mr." Haughton saw that'the premises next to him were on fire, and he immediately rang up the brigade. Almost simultaneously the alarm was givep by someone in the street. By this time dense clouds of smoke were rising, and were carried eastwards along Devon Street and oveifthe tops of the buildings in that direction, showing that the fire must have had * good hold before it was noticed. The brigade were quickly on the scene, and had a lead of hose playing into the building la a very few minutes. While they were getting into aotion several people forced the entrance into f*"/ ® ros '' shop from the front, «jnd thick black columns of smoke poured out for some time. Evidently the &9 was burning fiercely in the back of the premises, for it was some time before the flames became visible in Devoa Street. FLAMES BURST THROUGH ' When they burst through it appeared as though the whole of the building from floor to roof was ablase, and, though water was poured in from • several leads of hose, little impression seemed to be made for a time. When the flames burst through the roof and the wall on the westward side there wast every appearance of the fire spreading to Messrs McLeod and Slade's premises,' Out, by a continuous pressure of water on that side of the building and the fact that the external wall . constructed of corrugated iron and that tha wind carried the flames in the opposite direction, the building was savei The only apparent damage to it was some broken skylights and a little water to the upper portion. Members of the firm and staff had commenced to remove business. Md Btock of fi ° n * he . eastward side, however, the fire spread to the upper portion of tihe Bri°" >inß building, occupied by Mr. Brandon Haughton as a photogmnhic Studio and private residence. The lower Mr Tw t iui. building ia occupied by • L * as & hardware fur* AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE, en??' W' ha f d an « oitln * "periloS 8 Z m by Vhen tbey heard * rai " utea fctw tha flames were from th !j 6 buildin leaping out r! A windows of Pettji's shop. Mr Haughton his wife, child, and Wends had barely time to snatch th,ir «£ts and make for safety. Mr. Haughton is ' a heavy taut* W. had a large stock of nhottKrranhtn material, cameras, etc., as well a?s*£ra pianola and a piano. Besidea lia hn<t < i completed sixt> enVSu < deUv,,": Het wich oVp! y T Ws Btock the Non wicn Office, and another colic? nn th. pianola. He estimate, at £^2 •toppiv". the depth of the building W e*»toLafi l/SflSi.™t. «• THE ORIGIN OF THE TJRE. No cause of the outbreak oouli w' Wed last night. MesZp e left the premises at tho usu*f and when looking up evsmhtaT good order. Thfy T t t building itself, and their w? tlw ratus for the glue is appa " premises. Mr J W iS i aho P shop up WMia w* «3f Kti.Vat Standard Office for £3nn n T d in Bros.' stock wLXSm^ 8 If Union and Soußi*,? the amounts wem Offieei, but morning. They will h ® ,oertftln <i thtt stock of his s S hon U t d i" g, - and also th# State Office. P * ansUred to tfaft for hour taßk to be commended for th«' are efforts under the able T* 38 of their intendent Bellringer. tlon of Super-