FIRE TRAGEDY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1941, Page 6

FIRE TRAGEDY

IN AUCKLAND SUBURB WOMAN BURNT TO DEATH. HUSBAND INJURED, (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. A fire tragedy occurred at Ward Terrace, Sandringham (four miles from Auckland) shortly after one o'clock this morning, resulting in the death of Mrs Grace Lord, aged 26, and injuries to her husband, William Lord, an engineer, aged 34, both of whom came to Auckland from Helensville a fortnight ago. A. neighbour returning from work at 12.15 a.m. noticed nothing unusual, but was awakened later by calls for help and saw the Lords’ home on fire. The brigade was called and four engines arrived and got the fire under control almost immediately. Mr Lord had struggled out of the burning building with burns on his face, back and head, but had not succeeded in getting his' wife out. Her body was discovered by ! a fire brigadesman near the door of a bedrcom, at the back of the house. She apparently had been overcome by smoke and flames before reaching the bedroom door. Her body was severely burnt. Mr Lord was sent to hospital in a private car and treated in the casualty ward. The house, an old wooden building, burnt fiercely. As it was totally destroyed, brigade officials say it is impossible to know the cause of the fire. It is believed that a small fire was left burning in the grate in the living room, at the back of the house, and it is possible that the outbreak may have spread from this. An inquest will be opened later today.