FIRE ON CAMP

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVII, Issue 10016, 4 March 1929, Page 2

FIRE ON CAMP

MR C. F. .WASHERS HOUSE GUTTED. The syren sounded an alarm to-day at 1.20 the cause being a fire in .Mr C. F. Washer’s residence in Browne Street. The Brigade was quickly on the scene and as there is no water main in Browne Street, 600 feet of hose was coupled with the plug at the northern terminus of Cameron Read, while another length of bOO ft of hose was run out from the plug at the corner of Cliff Road and Browne Street. This Caused a delay and meanwhile the fire increased in intensity and by the time the water was on had a firm hold. The brigade accomplished good work and after a strenuous fight got the flames, under, but not before Considerable damage was done, especially to tho back portion of the house. Before tho water was on willing helpers worked assiduously and removed a good deal of furniture from, the building. The building was insured for £7OO in tbo Victoria Company and £3OO in the Ocean Office. The cover on tho furniture is £4OO in tho Ocean Company. Investigations prove that all the electric light and range fuses were intact, and show definitely that there was no fusing. The fact that the electric supply to the borough was cut off from 12.40 to 1.5 p.m. has no connection with tho fire as this was a pre-arranged cut-off in connection with the trimming of trees along the Cambridge Road power line. The fire to-day serves to give prominence to a suggestion made some time ago by tho borough engineer viz., that a system should be devised as between the Borough Council ami the Fire Brigade with regard to conservation of the water supply in tho area where a fire occurs. This could be done by isolating the whole water system, 'with the exception of tho fire zone, by means of the existing valves. This would divert the maximum supply of water for firefighting.