TWELVE HOMELESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 67, 21 March 1939, Page 8

TWELVE HOMELESS.

FIERCE MANGERE FIRE.

HOUSE RAZED TO GROUND.

A family of twelve at" Mangere is homeless as the result of a fierce blaze .which yesterday afternoon destroyed their seven-roomed home in McKen/Je Road. They are Mr. D. Ferguson, hi-s wife, and family of 10 children. Practically nothing remains; they escaped with only the clothes they were wearing at the time. Mrs. Ferguson saw the outbreak from .her garden. Ruehing inside, she saved her 14-months-old baby. Flames were sweeping through from the washhouse to the inner rooms. The Onehunga Fire Station was telephoned, but by the time an engine arrived, the house, which stood on a 10-acre farmlet, was a mass of flame and emoke. Despite the good pressure of water nothing could be done to save the building. Those in the vicinity declare that this disastrous fire demonstrates the urgent need for an automatic alarm system for the district. They *a.V there i* a good water supply and pressure from the Afanukau County mains. but an alarm system is essential. The house was hmii'ed for £1000 with the New Zealand Insurance Company, Limited, and the furniture for £250 with the eame office. Mr. Ferguson said after the fire, however, that he would still be a heavy loser.