AERODROME FIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 April 1938, Page 8

AERODROME FIRE

CLUBHOUSE AT MANGERE DESTROYED TROPHIES AND SOUVENIRS SAVED IMPROVISED WATER SUPPLY FAILS By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 10. A heavy loss was suffered by the Auckland Aero Club when its club house at Mangere aerodrome was completely destroyed by fire this morning. Through the excellent work of the club’s staff and pilots resident at the clubhouse, most of the furniture, fittings and trophies and the personal effects of some of the borders were saved. Two of the Union Airways staff who reside at the clubhouse lost all their personal effects. A member of the Otahuhu Fire Brigade suffered from smoke inhalation and was sent to the Auckland hospital for treatment. One of the ground staff of Union Airways had his right arm badly scorched during the salvage work. The outbreak was discovered about 10 a.m. by the club’s assistant instructor, Mr B. Haybittie, who was on the balcony. “I could smell burning, and on entering the passage way of the upper story I could hear the crackling of fire,” said Mr Haybittie. He found smoke and flames issuing from the linen store room in the northern end of the building.

Hand fire extinguishers were brought into operation, but the fire was too strongly established. Calls were sent to the Otahuhu and Onehunga brigades, both making prompt response. No reticulated water supply was available, and the brigades ran out about 1000 feet of hose and pumped supplies from one of the sea-water creeks near the hangars.

By this time the flames had burst through the roof and burnt their way to the ground floor at the north end of the building. With the limited pressure of water available the firemen succeeded in checking the spread of the fire and there were prospects of their efforts succeeding when the supply of water gave out. The tide being out, the supply was limited to the quantity of water in the creek bed. The flames spread rapidly and the whole building was razed to the ground. Smoke and flames rose to a great height and a large crowd soon gathered. Mr M. Morton, one of the Otahuhu firemen, was affected by smoke but he continued to assist in the work until he collapsed under a second affection. The clubhouse, which was built of wood and erected in 1929, was insured with Lloyd’s for £2500 and the furniture and fittings for £4OO with the same office. Officials of the club estimate the loss at fully £2OOO. Members of the club and those interested in its activities were gratified to learn that all the club trophies and souvenirs of historic fights were saved. Among the latter was a model of a kiwi surmounted on a map depicting the flights of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his companions, Messrs Ulm, McWilliams and Litchfield from San Francisco to Australia in 1925. This memento bears the autographs of the fout airmen. An autographed portrait of Miss Jean Batten was also salvaged.