THEATRE FIRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 255, 9 August 1946, Page 4

THEATRE FIRE

BRIGADE’S GOOD” SAVE AUDITORIUM BADLY DAMAGED (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Working in dense smoke and in- . tense beat, the Central Fire Brigade made a good save when fire broke out in the Avon Theatre in Worcester Street late last even-, ing. Only the prompt work of the brigade prevented the possible loss of the whole theatre. When the alarm was given at 10.45 p.m. the theatre was closed, the evening performance having concluded shortly before 10.30 p.m. A passer-by noticed .dense smoke and a reflected glare in an alley-way at the side of the theatre, and immediately ran to an alarm box near the corner of Worcester Street and Oxford Terrace. Four engines from the Central Fire Station answered the call, and when the brigade arrived the fire liad a good bold Although the cause of the fire will not be made known until a complete survey is made, its central points appeared to be beneath the stage and above it. Under the direction of Superintendent A. Morrison, two leads of water were put on to the stage, and the fire was confined to that area, although the damage caused? by radiated heat was extensive; <

Damage throughout the auditorium was extensive. The roof at the stage end of the theatre was burned completely out, and the 1 loud-speaker equipment badly damaged. The curtains about the stage were destroyed, and seats as far as half-way back in the auditorium were very badly burned. Further back they were also damaged, the covering cracking and disintegrating at the slightest ouch. Woodwork all over the theatre was blistered and burned, and the paintwork on the projection box was also blistered. Although the beat was intense about the box, which has concrete walls', there was no damage to the films inside.