SERIOUS FIRE IN BUSINESS AREA

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10832, 2 April 1932, Page 3

SERIOUS FIRE IN BUSINESS AREA

Damage to Farmers’ Trading Co’s Premises.

EXCELLENT SAVE BY BRIGADE

A fire in the Farmers’ Union Trading Company’s business premises at the corner of The Strand rind Hamilton Street, early this morning caused considerable damage. The alarm was given by Air E. White, who lives iu premises in the block on the Strand to the northward of Hamilton Street. Mrs White smelt smoke and awakened her husband who saw the smoke issuing from the rear of the Farmers' Trading Company’s premises. He then ran to the lire alarm box on the Strand opposite the Tauranga Hotel and gave the alarm at 2.5 b a.m. The Fire Brigade was speedily on the spot and soon had two leads playing on the flames. The pressure of water was good. The brigade did excellent work and confined (he fire to tiie store room where apparently it originated. After a strenuous fight the fire was got under control but not before (he store room was damaged. The stock in that room suffered greatly by fire and water, and the remainder of (he stock in the large front shop was considerably damaged by smoke. Mr and Mrs Foster, who live in rooms on the second storey of the building, were awakened by smoke coming through the ceiling into their room. Fortunately the second storey escaped damage. When Mr Thirkeli, the manager of the Farmers’ Trading Company’s store, left the premises at 6.4 5 lust night everything was all right. The origin of the fire is a mystery.

The value of the Company’s stock would be in the vicinity of £2OOO, and there is insurance cover, but the amount is not known here, as. the par ticulars are held in Auckland. The building is owned by Mrs M. E. Hartley, and there is an insurance cover in the South British Office.

The Fire Brigade made a splendid save. It was fortunate that the firemen were on the scene in reasonably good time and were able to confine tlie damage by fire to the store room. Had the fire got out of hand the destruction of the wooden buildings and the contents would undoubtedly have been on a large scale. The members of the brigade are to he commended on their fine work.