SERIOUS FIRE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17428, 12 April 1922, Page 10

SERIOUS FIRE.

NORTH BRIGHTON BUSINESS BLOCK DESTROYED. DAMAGE EXCEEDS £7OOO. „ #. A disastrous fire occurred at North Brighton oarly yesterday morning, resulting in the total destruction of a group of buildings covering upwards of three-quarters of an acre at the corner of Bowhiil road and the Esplanade. The destroyed buildings included the Ozone Cafe, a two-storey building in brick, containing seventeen rooms and offices, Mr H. Price's refreJliment rooms and dressing rooms, with dwelling attached, Mr Thompson's grccery and confectionery store, and Mrs Hucks' motor garage. . Tije outbreak was discovered shortly before 4 a.m., when a fairly strong nor'-wester was blowing. A ' ■ ?„ instantly despatched to give the a<aim at the Fire Brigade station. in >ew Brighton, tut owing to the rising mud the flames soon obtained a firm hold or the building occupied by Mr Price and family, and spread with hgl.tning rapidity to the Ozone Cafe whioii was soon enveloped in flames. The firc-iieil rang out for a considerab.e time, routing not only the firemen but also the whole of the borough. Owing to the Council horses being turned out to graze a considerable distance from the Fire Brig d& station, and fru.trating the efforts made to catch them, the steam engine could not bo taken to the scene of the fire until too late to be 'of service. The chemical was sent, and by the time it arrived at Bowliill road the \yhole block was doomed, and all hop© of making a save was abandoned. Attention was then directed to tho row of Btiops recently erected on the opposite side of Bowhill road. The flames rose high, «nd at times swept partly across the road, the boat being so intense that all tho shop windows, though of ptnte gla&>, were badly cracked and otherwise damaged. Mr R. Davidson, son-in-'.«w of the proprietor of tlie Ozone Cafe, recently took over the business from Mrs Hucks, and moved in on Monday. ' Mr Price is of opinion that the firo started on the premises occupitd by him at the buck of the kitchen range. The fire was so rapid in its progress that both ho and his family escaped practically in their night attiic. Besides his losa of stock, furniture, etc., Mr Price is a considerable loser in money, some of Trhicn. has been picked out of the debris since.

With tho exception of a piano and oino or two odds-and-ends of furniture, everything in the enfe was totally destroyed, including a quantity of jewellery, the property of Mrs JEluoks and Mrs Davidson, who are considerable Losers. Tho whole- of Mr Thompson's stock, fittings, and furniture' were destroyed, and he is ailso «. leser. lfonicul a$ it may seem, it is stated 'aa a fact tliat though unapproacliabl© owing to the fire, tiiere waa a large quantity of water at h«.nd which could have been used for fighting the flames, and, further, a manual engine was kept on the premises. t It yias reduced tea tangled mass. of iron. Up to Monday, Gilmour arid Midgtey contracted with the Council to haul tho fire engine (steamer>> per. motor-car, to any point in tho borough where a fire might be located. Thi3 contract expired on Monday evening. The early morning trams to and from North Beach were held up as a result of the fire, which destroyed the overhead wires. That there wiS 'have to be some better means x>f dealing with fire 9 locally ie patent. The horses used for hauling the fire engine are now turned out at night some considerable distance from tho station, under 'instructions from the Health Department, which objected to them being kept in the\ Council yard. ' HSoe insurances were: .Mrs Hucks. I £4BOO, State office; Mr Thompson, £4OO, Yorkshire office; Mr Price; £330, United office. The damage is very much more than the amount of insurance, being estimated at over £7OOO. The fire was still smouldering late yesterday afternoon, by which time repair fangs from the Tramwav Board and elegraph, Department had again placed theif respective overhead wires and aear ,in working order. .