FIRE! FIRE!

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 12, 25 October 1949, Page 2

FIRE! FIRE!

SEVERAL DISASTROUS OUTBREAKS ASHBURTON CONFLAGRATIONS RECALLED The week-end celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade bring to mind not only the constant vigilance exercised by the brigade and the almost innumerable fires, major and minor, that have in that long period been attended, but recalls the fact that Ashburton, in common with other New Zealand towns, has had its disastrous outbreaks.

The long history of Ashburton fires is run through with the frequent occurrence of hedge and grass fires, of struggles against flames fanned by nor’-westers, of inadequate water supply,* but these have comprised' the common run of the years, and in contrast there stand out some history-making events. There seems to be no complete record in existence but the following outbreaks will long be remembered by townspeople, though some go too far back for all but the “oldest inhabitants.”

In 1872 the Post Office was burned down: Jn 1900 and in 1926 the same institution had minor fires. In 1892 occurred the big East Street fire by which seven shops, comprising the block known as 1 Prospect Buildings, was burned down. The monetary loss was £IO,OOO, a great sum nearly 50 years a‘go.

Most Tragic Outbreak

The year 1908 (October 27) was marked by the most tragic fire in the history of the town. Hefford’s drapery establishment, and with it the dental parlours and living quarters of Mr A. L. Zouch was destroyed, and two people, Mr Zouch’s mother and a little boy, Arthur Petrie Pilbrow, met their deaths.

In 1921 the Club House, a boarding establishment in Tancred Street between William Street and Chalmers Avenue, was gutted. Thirteen persons were on the premises, and some had narrow escapes.

Perhaps the most spectacular blaze occurred in 1925 when the Baptist Tabernacle, in Peter Street, was razed. The brigade had been called to a hedge fire in Cox Street, when a fireman noticed a glow in the church. In spite of all that could be done the outbreak was so fierce that in three-quarters of an hour only charred remains of the big building were left.

Theatre Destroyed

The Majestic Theatre fire, August 10, 1937, provided the excitement of the year. No fire provoked more controversy than did this big blaze —and after all these years the walls still stand as a reminder, if any were needed. Recent years contain the record of the Racecourse grandstand fire of 1943, the Domain grandstand of 1946, and the big fire at the Electric Power Board’s store in 1947. With the passing of kerosene as an illuminant and the relative fewness of wooden buildings in built-up areas, fire hazards, of course, decrease, but the 1 danger is always present, and only an efficient brigade can minimise risk and loss. Such a brigade Ashburton thankfully boasts to-day.