ESCAPE FROM FIRE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 284, 30 November 1944, Page 6

ESCAPE FROM FIRE

FAMILY JUST IN TIME AWAKENED BY EXPLOSIONS (0.C.) • WHANGAREI, this day. Awakened by exploding ammunition, eight people—the owner, his wife and five children and a maid— narrowly escaped death when an eight-roomed house at Kiripaka, ten miles and a half from Whangarei, was destroyed by fire late last night. The house apparently caught fire in the rear section, and the owners, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Ellin, their family, whose ages range, from one to ten years, and the maid were not aware of the danger until ammunition stored in the kitchen exploded. The Ellins quickly realised that the flames were beyond control, as a considerable portion of the house was blazing fiercely, and, with the assistance of the maid, the children were speedly removed from the building. Immediately after they left the roof collapsed, indicating how narrow had been their escape. If it had not been for the exploding of the ammunition, it is likely that the whole family would have perished. , Only a small quantity of bedding taken out with the children was saved, and the occupants left with only their night clothes. Some fine furniture and silver, brought by Mr. Ellin, sen., from England, were included in the contents which were destroyed. The residence, known as Haddon, was one of the finest country houses in the Whangarei district. Both the house and contents were insured.