FIRE INQUIRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1941, Page 6

FIRE INQUIRY

OPENED IN AUCKLAND. OUTBREAK IN WAREHOUSE BUILDING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. An inquiry into the cause of the fire at the warehouse of J. Burns and Co. on the morning of August 19 was opened in the Magistrate’s Court building before Mr F. K. Hunt, as Commissioner. There was a large array of counsel, representing various interests and also representatives of the Police and Internal Affairs Departments. A statement on behalf of the firm was made by Mr R. M. Reed, counsel for John Burns and Co. He said their block consisted of two buildings—that pn Commerce and Customs Street East being known as the Holdship Building and that on the corner of Fort Street Lane and Customs Street East being known as Morton Building. Counsel described the fire escape facilities and said there was a fire alarm system throughout both buildings, also a fire hose and hydrant on each floor level, by the main staircase, connected with an adequate water supply. The lift well was faced on the south and west by brick walls and elsewhere by timber framed walls and was, subject to the customary inspection. The outer door was solid wood. After the fire the grease was still in the lower guides, showing that the fire had not reached it.