SLIDE TO SAFETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1939, Page 3

SLIDE TO SAFETY

FIRE IN AUCKLAND THEATRE. FOUR PEOPLE RECEIVE BURNS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 4. Use of a length of runner carpet was made to assist patrons to escape from the dress circle when fire broke out, blocking the stairway and main entrance of the Avondale Town on Saturday night. There was no serious panic, the audience of about 300 leaving the hall within a few minutes, but four persons received burns to hands and face. A sum of money in notes, representing portion of the night’s takings, was also destroyed. The fire occurred shortly before 9 o’clock, while there were about 200 persons seated downstairs, and about 100 upstairs. The seat of the ctatbreak was in the office of the manager, Mr Rudall Hayward, and also used as a box office. Flames rapidly filled the office and smoke filtered into the hall. Brigades from Avondale and Point Chevalier fire stations had arrived be fore the audience was made aware of the fire. Seeing that the danger to the people lay in allowing them to leave by the maindoorway they were diverted through two side exit doors. Bursting from the office, and licking around the bottom of the concrete stairway to the dress circle, the flames barred normal exit for persons sitting upstairs Seizing a strip of runner carpet firemen threw one end up to their mates on the balcony. Holding the carpet firmly at each end, the firemen told the people to make use of it slide to safety. Though the circumstances were trying, much laughte,r was caused as people slid willy-nilly down the carpet and made hurriedly for the exits. Young and old did not hesitate to pander to dignity, but made full use of the carpet.