£l000 FIRE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21207, 2 September 1940, Page 6

£looo FIRE

BLAZE IN HAMILTON DAMAGE IN FURNITURE SHOP SMART WORK BY BRIGADE Damage estimated at approximately £IOOO was caused on Saturday night when fire broke out in the furniture shop of Mr J. W. Belz at the 'northern end of Victoria Street The fire had a good hold before it was noticed. Summoned at about 8.30 p.m., the Hamilton Fire Brigade effected a good save by preventing the blaze from spreading through the rest qf the old wooden block of which Mr Belz’s shop is about the centre. The building is owned by Mr H. H. IsaScs. On receiving the call the brigade sent out two pumping engines. The rear part of the shop, which was used as a storeroom and used-furni-ture department was found completely enveloped in flames. Two streams of water were run in to the rear from Barton Street and, ‘with the flames spreading rapidly, the blaze also had to be attacked from the top. A considerable amount of kapok and tow was among the contents oi the affected part of the shop, and this added to the difficulties of the firemen. The walls of the storeroom were of brick, but a sliding door leading to the front of the . shop, which contained the stocks of new furniture, was open and it was only the smart work of the brigade that prevented more extensive damage in this direction. Only slight damage was caused to the furniture in the shop proper and no damage at all was caused to any of the adjoining shops. The estimated damage of £IOOO exceeds the Hamilton fire loss for the whole of last year, when 108 calls were answered by the brigade. The building was insured with the Queensland Insurance Company and the contents with the Victoria Insurance Company.