FIRE IN DEANS AVENUE

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18102, 18 June 1924, Page 8

FIRE IN DEANS AVENUE

CONFECTIONERY WORKS DESTROYED.

During the past few months outbreaks of fir© outside the boundary of the Municipal Water Department s reticulation area have been fairly frequent, and another was added. 1 to the list last evening when a confectionery manufactory situated at 161 Dea.ns avenue, Hiccarton, was completely destroyed. Tho building was a single storey wooden structure, standing a few feet behind a motor garage opening directly on to the street. It was owned by Mr Hambert Colonna, of the Strand Tearooms, being leased by him at the time of the fire to the Vice Regal Confectionery Manufacturing Company, of Christ-church. Both the building, which was valued at £I2OO, and the stock, which was valued at £4OO, were completely destroyed, tho fire having secured a strong hold before the alarm was given. . 'Mr T. Howard, of Ayr street, who gave Tne alarm, heard a number of reports coming from the direction of the building, and on investigating the cause, saw flames coming from under the eaves. He tried to break in to the building to 'see if anyone was inside, but the door was shut and his efforts proved fruitless. He then opened the garage in case a quantity of petrol was stored there, but this building fortunately was empty. Mr Howard then gave the alarm, and the Brigade arrived a few minutes after 7 p.m. Tho building was thoroughly alight even before the fire was discovered, the heat forcing the slates from the asbestos roof lining, and scattering them in all directions. *v?hen the Brigade arrived the heat was intense. A difficulty arose over the water supply. _ There was no fire plug in the vicinity, the nearest soiirce being the Clarence road' creek, a distance of nearly half a mile ■ ffom the seat of the outbreak. The pumping engine was . sent to the creek and the water pumped through a single lead of hose, 2500 ft in length to the tire. The pressure was good considering the distance over which the water was pumped, but with only a single lead o* hose, and considering the hold the fire h&d secured, it was found impossiGle to save the building. The! Brigade concentrated their attention on preventing the outbreak spreading to the two-storey wooden residence of Mr W. T. Robinson, land agenf, of Cbristchurch, which was separated from the burning building by only a few feet. The wall of "this dwelling was scorched in places, but otherwise escaped damage. Machinery valued at about £l6O, the property of Mr Colonna, which was in burnt building, was also destroyed. Prior to the arrival of the Brigade, a number of residents attempted to corie / with the fire with: buckets, but their efforts proved fruitless. / An insurance! policy of £6OO was hefrl in the Pice nix Office on the building. The insurances on the contents were not, available last night. Speaking of the fire last evening, Superintendent C. Warner, of the Christchurch Brigade, stated that the district in which the outbreak had occurred was the worst in the whole of the Jliccartoit area from a fire protection' point of view. The. building, which was situated two doors from the intersection; of lliccarton road and Deans avenne, was midway between the Clarencfe road creek and the Matson's road drain. There was no other tvater supply available in that particular locality.