DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 81, 15 January 1932, Page 5

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

BIG BLAZE AT WHANGAREI.

IN CENTRE OF BUSINESS AREA.

SEVERAL PREMISES DESTROYED. (Per Press Association). WHANGAREI, January 14. Not since the great fire which swept the town centre of Whangarei about 36 years ago has such a conflagration raged here as the one which broke out just before seven o’clock to-night. It involved one of the most important business blocks in the heart of the town, located at the base of Bank Street, near its junction with Cameron Street. ' . • • - , •

The lire started in the back portion, of the Farmers’ Union Trading Company’s large general merchandise premises, which are constructed of brick and concrete, and consist of three storeys at the back and two in the , front. \.

The brigade was quickly on the scene, but' when it arrived fire was visible through tlio windows in the basement. Though tlfc brigade attacked the outbreak from three sides with a moderate water pressure, the flames quickly spread through the interior of the building. Billows of smoke were issuing from the eastern windqws at 7.10 p.m.. when* a member of the firm’s staff rushed in and removed a box of explosives. Five minutes later flames were visible on the top floor. Shortly before eight o’clock'the whole structure was a terrible inferno, with flames issuing from every aperture and the roof. Adjoining buildings on either side, including Hosking’s Drapery Emporium, Chaplin’s tobacconist establishment and East’s fruiterer’s shop, were also well alight by this time. The frails of the Fanners’ premises collapsed at 8.10 o’clock, and those of Hosking’s shop 10 minutes later. Other occupiers of shops in the vicinity removed a [portion of their stocks. The remainder was damaged by smoke and water, The fire presented a brilliant spectacle, and was obseryable for many miles. The loss, which is not yet ascertainable, will be enormous. The telephone and telegraphic services to the north were largely disorganised. The outbreak was well under control at nine o’clock.

DETAILS OF THE LOSSES.

FOUR PREMISES) DESTROYED. WHANGAREI, This Day. As an outcome of the most costly and spectacular fire Which Whangarei has experienced for over 30 1 years, a wide breach has been made/ right through the important comparatively new trading block in the heart of the town.

Four premises were completely demolished, the most notable being those of . the Farmers’ Union Trading Company, general providers, and R. G. Hosking’s extensive drapery emporium. ' These buildings stood on a steep slope with two storeys fronting the lower end of Bank Street, near to Cameron Street corner, and four storeys, including the basement, .a-fr the back. Other structures destroyed were those of: G. R. 'Caplin (tobacconist), H. Wilkinson (confectioner), Whangarei Racing Oub'Office (all the contents being saved), while the stocks of East and McKinnon (both fruiterers), immediately north and south respectively were utterly spoiled by heat, smoko *and water. \. The,contents of three other shops in Cameron Street—Messrs Burfoot’s (chemist), McKinnon 1 (Marble Bar Tearooms) and another drapery shop, also owned by Hosking, were damaged by smoke and water. , r

As it was a half holiday here probably the fire was smouldering several , hours until smoke was observed proceeding from the rear of the Farmers’ property just before seven o’clock. Though the volume of smoko increased enormously, owing to the interior burning, nearly an hour elapsed, beforo flames burst out from all parts of the building. Messrs Hosking’s property and other premises which were demolished:, were speedily involved in a spectacular blaze which was observable over a radius of many miles.

A very light north-westerly wind carried showers of sparks a. long distance, but no other ill consequences ensued. Sonic of tlie windows in the buildings on the opposite side of the- street from the conflagration were broken by heat, but water from hoses prevented further harm. In the early stages a member of the Farmers’ Company’s staff intrepidly entered the premises and! carried out a case of high explosives. Awesome incidents during the progress of the. fire were loud detonations from, bursting tins of kerosene and the crashing down of floors and walls. The lire brigade, reinforced by exmembers, used every available appliance and performed prodigibs of, risky endeavour until they finally gained the upper hand' about nine o’clock. It i$ stimated that the total loss is about £40,000.