FIRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8302, 22 November 1915, Page 2

FIRE.

MOTOR GARAGE DESTROYED

CARS BURNED AND DAMAGED

(Per Press Association;

TIMARU, November 21. A fire occurred soon after 5 p.m. to? day in Messrs Bockaert's motor garage, situated in the centre of a biock containing some of the largesjb business premises in Timaru. Tho fire was discovered at the back of the garage, and had evidently started in the oil room behind' the main building. The one assistant who was on duty and the two young men who had just entered the garage endeavourod to quell the fire with an extinguisher, but the fire gained on them and ran quickly up to the roof. The brigade was summoned, but the fire had a good hold in the roof, and were damaged. cars in the garage. Tho brigade did excellent work, but the garage wan practically destroyed, and many cars were damaged. There were 22 vehicles in the building when the fire occurred, a number of tho cars which are regularly stored there having been taken out by their owners during the,day., Nino cars, valued... at yibbut...£3ooo,- were rescued undamaged. Threqi. cars^wovth. .£650 :were completely, destroyed; ; and the remainder of tho vehiclas suffered more or less seriously. As the fire descended from the roof, it was in most cases the hood .and upholstering of the seats that sufrered, and, though tho paint on many of, the cars was scorched, the tyres wore not damaged, and the engines remained intact. The damage to the .10 cars saved is estimated at about £500. Among them is one belonging to Messrs Skelton, Frostick and Co., of Christcluireh,'which suffered to the extent of about £25. c •>

A visitor to Timaru was rather unfortunate. He had put up his car only an hour before tho fire occurred, and it will cost him fully £G0 to have it renovated.

Although only a brick wall separated tho petrol store containing 90 cases of petrol from the main building, the brigade was able to prevent the firo reaching the store. If it had done so, a largo block of buildings would have been destroyed.

Messrs Boekaert, nnd Co. estimate tho damage to the workshop and shop at £800, which is covered to some extent, by tho Victoria Insurance) Company. Though the office was damaged by water the* books were saved.--

■ Messds .Maling and Co.'s w'arohonse adjoining the garage was invaded by water, but the extent of tho damage done thero is not ascertain able tonight.