FIRES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13428, 21 May 1909, Page 7

FIRES.

EXTENSIVE OUTBREA K\ AT SPREYDOX. \ THREE HOUSES DESTROYS^ A fire that did extensive damage- bY fore it was snppressed broke out abouV 1.30 this morning in Rosqpvarne street,\ Spreycion. Tho outbreak started in a \ four-roomed cottage owned and occupied by Mr J. F. Voght, who had aft his belongings packed up ready for removal to the North Island to-day-When he was wakened by tho fire, th« kitchen and front room were in flames, and- it was with ciitoculty tlot he rescued a Jittlo girl who was sleeping iv ttio back bearoom. A brisk sou-westerly t>ree«e was blowing, and fanned by this the flames spread down tne .street to the oott-ago owned and occupied by Mr W. Odgers. This houst , was also totally destroyed, but Mr Ocigens, with the help of neighbours, managed to'save the whole ot nis iuiniture. The flames also si>read up tho street against, t-Uo wind to the Ijohw occupied by Air C. Ostler* and totally ' destroyed it. Mr Ostler .managed to save most of his furniture.

'i'he names continued on their way down tho street ami caught tho wall of a fourth house, and this would havo been destroyed, but for the fact thai. Mr Daniel Campbell, the owner of tho property, guaranteed tho expenses of the brigade (£10), this being necessary as tho aceno of the fire was outside fche boundary. The brigade, got to work, and with great difficulty saved thr fourth house and thus, probably, t\w rest of that side of the street from total destruction. The brigade had to use About a thousand feet of lios«> to get a. connection with the Sydenham Uiigbypressure water supply. The police telephoned to'tho Sydenham pumping station, and got the engineer to pump the water straight into the main, but the pressure at that distance was still poor, aud the firemen had to go very close to the threatened liouso before they could check the foititli outbreak. Owing to the proximity of the burning houses, the firemen had to have horse-rugs teld. over them to protect them from tho extreme beat, and as it was the horse-rugs, though an attempt was made to keep them damp, caught fire. The chemical enfine givv" o good help in checking the aines.

Tho insurances were: —On the house occupied by Mr Voght, £150 in the National and £(J0 on tho furniture; on Mr Odgers's house, £150 in the National and £50 on the furniture; the liouse occupied by Mr Ostler was a3ec insured, but in what office could noi be ascertained. The house which we,? saved- by the brigade was also insured' in the National office.

OUTBREAK IN RICHMOND. At 9.80 last night the fire brigade received intimation by telephone that a fire had broken out in a house situated at 217 Stanmore road, near t3i<i Richmond school. A motor, a horse chemical, and two steamers went out to tie scone of the outbreak. Before the flames were extinguished the buildiug and ite contents were severely damaged by fire. Tho cottage was a fourroomed weather-board dwelling, owaed and occupied by.Mr J. Cuenck. The Irailding was insured for £100 in tho State office, and the contents for £75 i.i the samo office.