CITY BLAZE

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21582, 19 November 1941, Page 6

CITY BLAZE

HALF BLOCK RAZED TIMBER MILL DESTROYED HOUSES IN DANGER FIREMAN PINNED UNDER WALL (By Telegraph.—rress Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday Half of a city block was razed to the ground early this morning when the timber yards and mill of C. S. McCully, Limited, at the corner of Tuam and Montreal Streets caught fire. The outbreak was first noticed about 1.20 a.m. and the brigade was on the scene within a few minutes, but by then the fire had such a strong hold that there was no hope of doing anything beyond attempting to confine it to the timber yard. The occupants of six houses adjoining the yards moved hurriedly into the street in their night attire, taking a few personal belongings. One of them, named Port, had to be roused from his room by the police, wno found him slightly cut by falling glass. Soon alter the outer brick wail of McCully s premises fell on this cottage. Fireman Norman Phelan was injured about 2.10 a.m. when the north wail of McCuily’s preimses fell out into the street. He is a married man with two children. He had to be taken from under a colLapsed brick wall and was admitied to hospital.

From the start for most of the spectators the interest was not in tne fate of the timber yard, which was an unbroken mass oi names, but in the houses, tnree in Montreal Street and three in St. Asaph Street, with their bedding and furniture stacked in the street. The occupants of these houses stood in their nignt attire watching their homes, just beyond which the lire blazed fiercely. Right against the high brick wall of McCuliy’s in Montreal Street was one house occupied by Mr Port. Missing him when she was out in the street and the house was already endangered by the wall, Mrs Port told tne police and three constables went in and found him cut about the face but preparing to leave. Not long after they had all left the house it was almost demolished by the falling wall. After this it caught fire. By 1.35 a.m. the blaze was so great that it threw a fiare of light on the Cathedral spire half a mile away. From the Montreal Street side of tne timber yard the fire spread east and north. The offices of McCully Limited were burning strongly at 1.40, by which time tne whole oi the company’s area was ablaze. The nightwatchman for McCullys’, Mr Halkett, reported that the lire started when a spark from the boiler, blown out by the wind, fell on some skirting, and fanned by the sudden gust of wind immediately caused a fire. Mr Halkett obtained a bucket of water but within a few seconds, he said, flames were everywhere. Six Engines Operate When the brigade arrived the fire had to be attacked from many points at once to prevent it spreading. Six engines were brought out and leads of hose were taken to all points where it was possible to protect adjoining property. The heat was so great that it was difficult to approach anywhere near the main fire, but firemen penetrated deep into the premises wherever they could.

The wooden outer walls of McCullys’ office fell into the street about 2 a.m. Twenty minutes later the brick wall in Tuam Street fell out, pinning Fireman Phelan under its debris and slightly injuring another fireman in the knee. Another alarm was raised about 2 o'clock when smoke and flames were seen coming from the back of \V. A. McLaren and Company, Limited, motor engineers, of 108 St. Asaph Street.

Their premises, packed with motor-cars and trucks and with petrol pumps and oil drums close at hand, were immediately opposite the burning buildings. Firemen at once broke the lock on the door and in a short time the blaze was put out, leaving only a few. smouldering sacks.

When daylight came the whole of McCullys’ area of nearly two acres was a smouldering ruin, with only the gaunt frames of giant bandsaws standing. For hours after the main fire was extinguished firemen poured jets of water on the ruins, from which clouds of smoke and steam enveloped the district. Plant a Total Loss

“The modern joinery and sawmilling plant has been completely ruined by hre,” said Mr J. Booth, manager of McCully, Limited. One of the biggest losses, he said, was the bandsawing plant which used to cut raw pinus logs into timber. The whole plant was a total loss.

In addition, three timber drying kilns were gutted, said Mr Booth. That loss was serious, as the firm relied upon them for supplies of dry timber. Even more serious was the loss of three full racks of selected dry timber, rimu and beech that was estimated to be worth thousands of pounds and would be an important factor in deciding whether the firm would make a iresh start. Three trucks were also destroyed in the fire. The damage is estimated at over £IO,OOO.