BLAZE AT AUCKLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1921, Page 4

BLAZE AT AUCKLAND.

LARGE WAREHOUSE DESTROYED VALUABLE STOCK LOST FLAMES FOUGHT FOR TWO HOURS. B> Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A four-storeyed brick warehouse, occupied by Messrs. Briscoe and Co., Ltd., on the corner of Customs and Gore Streets, was completely gutted by fire early this morning. The stock, valued at about £60,009, was insured for £33,000, and the insurance on the build? ing was £9OOO, but the present day value of the structure would be about £26,000. It was erected about twenty years ago. When the brigade arrived the building was already wrapped in flames, and through rows and rows of windows, which had been broken by the fierce heat of the devastating flames, poured dense black clouds of smoke. The firemen, nevertheless attempted to penetrate 'into the building from the front entrance in Customs Street, but they were thwarted. They then turned their attention to the back cart entrance in Gore Street and here again more difficulty was met—a big wooden door doubly ironed front and back and about three inches in thickness proved almost invincible to the onslaught of axes wielded by the attackers, and it took half-an-hou-r to make a hole sufficient for them to enter the building. The fire was located here, and immethe big swing doors were opened the roaring flames shot upwards through the floors and the roof fell in. Despite this, however, the brigade worked like trojans and quickly water was pouring on the flames ’■through loads placed through the cart entrance and through the top windows on the Gore Street side.

It was impossible for several policemen who had come from their night vigils and a handful of the public present at this stage to stand about in this thoroughfare, so overpowering were the heavy clouds of black smoke that belched forth from the burning building. The fight with the flames lasted two whole hours, tons and tons of watei having to be poured on them through thirteen leads and tw< deluges before they were got under control. Practically all tht work of the brigade wa's done from two ladders, there being no fire escapes to the building to assist the men in their work. At nine o’clock this morning when several hundreds of city folk viewed all that remained of the building water was still being played on the smouldering debris. Loud 'detonations during the progress of the fire, which were heard on the outskirts of the city, were accounted for by Superintendent Wilson as having been caused by stocks of cartridges being swept up by the flames. These explosions lasted for fully an hour. Both buildings adjoining the destroyed structure escaped damage. They are in brick, the one in Gore Street occupied by Messrs. Jagger and Harvey, chandlers, being separated from the corner building by the cart entrance. The fire is said to have started in a room at the rear of the building used by the employees for changing their clothing. The manager of Messrs. Briscoe and Co., Ltd., stated to-day that the company were heavy losers as a result of the fire. It was impossible, however, to estimate the exact position at present.