FIRE IN MASTERTON

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10639, 18 May 1912, Page 5

FIRE IN MASTERTON

FURNITURE FACTORY GUTTED.

Shortly after 2.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, a vigorous alarm- was sounded on the Masterton. fii-ebells, and volimcs of smoke issuing from a Imilding in Perry Street', indicated that a conflagration was in progress*. -The Fire Brigades and Fire Police ijurned out promptly, and it was discovered that the two-storey furniture factory of tie W.F.C.A. was in S-- flames. Mir Ivan O'Connor was working oh the upper floor of the factory, .jyijecn |ie dbssryed s*moke issuing from /£ room below, in- which kapoc and. fuOTfiture wel'6 stored. He immediately applied' '■- chemical extinguishers which were at hand) but these, ' to actt, and* he promptly gave the al- ' arm. The hose belonging to the firm •was brought quickly into play', and was followed later by tho hose of the Fire Brigade. By this time the flaimos | 3iad a complete hold cf the eastern , end cf the building, aiivd huge volumes of sanoke ascended heavenwards. Soon four jets of water wore playing upon J the. building, and while the firemen! were engaged figihting the flames, the ] ]Kue Police and staff of the firm were; ■iemuplloyied removing articles of furniJfcaro, etc., from'the burning building. One fireman was overcome by the ' «moke ,and had to be carried out of -the building. By. strenuous' effort a, and unaer circumstances which were rfone too favourable, so fan- as the avhter supply wais concerned, the Brigades aoucceeded in subduing the flames and in- confining them to the one building.: "The eastern, end of the factory was •completely gutted, aad the wlhole of jt® contents (comprising manufactuired furniture and bidding) destroyed. The damage in the front portion of the bm&ldm'g was not so great, though most of the machinery and furniture ■-: in that part was destroyed by etmoke, fire and water. The origin of the fire is a mystery, though it is supposed to have been caused by combustion in ithe kapoc. The building was irfsm-ed for £4OO, the stock for £3OO, and the machinery for £2OO in the Phoenix Of&oe. The building and contents were valued at about £ISOO. The furhituire saved is valued at about £SO. The damage to the machirfery (which is in the front part of uhe building) was not serious.