FIRE IN LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 57, 9 March 1931, Page 7

FIRE IN LONDON.

SPECTACULAR BLAZE.

1100 Firemen Fight Fierce Conflagration.

THAMES-SIDE OUTBREAK.

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 9.30 a.m.) LOXT DX, March 8.

The most spectacular fire -witnessed in London for many years reduced to a skeleton within two hours portion of Butler's "wharf, a seven-storey structure containing stocks of rubber and tea, situated on the Thames opposite the Tower of London.

Eleven hundred firemen, -with 70 fire engines and firefloats, fought for hours to prevent the fire spreading to the adjoining buildings in the district, which, owing to the congestion, is regarded as London's danger zone.

A wind of almost gale force whipped the flames upward hundreds of- feet and blew gigantic volumes of emoke over the city. This smoke so darkened offices a mile distant that artificial light had to be utilised.

As occasional gusts of wind blew away the smoke, the buildings, with their redhot girders, were revealed. Firemen could be seen clinging to swaying water towers 90ft high and to iron bridges connecting Butler's wharf with neighbouring warehouses. From there, and from other high points, the firemen poured tons of water from hundreds of jets on to the flames.

of the firemen commandeered a steamer and climbed up the funnels and masts, and from them pumped more volumes of water into the ,fire. Several were overcome by the fumes and some had their clothing burnt.

Many of the firemen had narrow escapes when a red-hot crane crashed down. Others suffered from the intensely cold atmosphere, having to hack away icicles a foot long which as the water dripped down.

White-hot tea leaves and ashes were showered upon the enormous crowds of people who watched the struggle. After six hours the flames were controlled.

A quantity of oil stored in the neighbourhood is believed to be safe. The damage is estimated at nearly fIOO,OOO.