BIG FIRE IN DUNEDIN

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10646, 30 May 1912, Page 5

BIG FIRE IN DUNEDIN

MIMMO AND BLAIR'S PREMISES GUTTED. TWO FIRFJM.EIN INJURED. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) DUNEDiIN, Last Nigh. A destructive fire occurred here shortily afte 9 o'clock by which the promises of Messrs Nimmo and Blair, seed and grain' merchants, suffered extensive damage. 5 , The 'building was a three-storey orfe, and the fire seemed to .originate in the" rear of the .third storey. It aporad rapidly, however, amd swwi the whole floor, with the frontage cf .some 100 feet to lower High Street, was a moss of fiaime.

On this floor was stored a stock of seeds and some agricultural machinery, and fed by the former, the fire gained cmonmouisly. Dense clouds of wnoke mnd long tongues of fh'me rose 'high into ithe air, while on the pavement beneath the crash of broken iglass from th? windows sounded at .freouent intervals.

The iFire Brigade received a call at : 8.5, and hecing only ai short distance + o £3, were speedily on the scene with fire-fighting appliances. The ladders were run up against the wall, and: the •firemen started to mount them, hose rm hand.

One cf these, a new ladder, with three men on it, broke in the middle, and all were precipitated to the pavement, below. Fireman Baxter sustained a broken leg, and Firemacr Murray received somß injuries.

Th-?i"'3 were the only accidentis in corineotion with, the fire.

A" fii'ds-h"'ladder was-soon rigged up, and from this, as well or? f'rean a. new escape ladder, the firemen were soon pouring powerful jets of water upon ihe flames, whidh by tlr's. time were threatening rthe second storey of the building. Two Jirads were carried to the rear from Street, and plaved '.upon the flames from a good position with excellent effect. It .was Ingely awing to the work done in this quarter that the adjoining buildings were saved ifireni catch-' ing, white the entire pbs?nce cf wind wa.s in favour of getting the flames qviukly -subdued. ' In tho mcist southern corner of the J buildii)p , „ where the fii'A was burning I very fierceilv, some 6000 cornsn.?ks| were sitored. On the second flor the agricultural! seeds were cxteir.iv.rvlyj damaged' by fire and by water. By 10.30 the fire was practically subdued. The insurances were not available I to-aiight. I