HOW THE FIRE WAS FOUGHT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22409, 24 May 1938, Page 12

HOW THE FIRE WAS FOUGHT

DIFFICULT TASK OF BRIGADE DAMAGE BY WATER AND SMOKE The value of the standing policy of the fire brigade of sending the electric extension ladder out to all fires in the high building area was again demonstrated yesterday morning. The board’s new tender, equipped with powerful boosting motors for the hose pressure, arrived first on the scene, and it was followed by another trader and the ladder, a hose engine, and a pumping engine. They were all promptly replaced at the central station by engines from the suburban stations. While the extension ladder was being run up, two leads Were taken hi from Colombo street almost outside the building, and tip the main stairway Of Macduffs to the first floor* beyond which the men could, not get in the early stages. Meanwhile, two leads from the big water main in Armagh Street were run to the new tender, and the, boosting engine started. From it three leads were run out, one up the extension ladder, and two up the main stairway of 3ZB ifito the two-storeyed building* from where it was possible to attack the fire on the first floor of MacdUffs from the side. The extension ladder was thrust up to die first floor window, and it followed the fire from floor to floor and across the front to the State Theatre. From the alleyway leading off Gloucester street, two leads Were run in to the back Of Macduffs’ building, and the fire was attacked from a OneStoreyed Shed belonging to MlhSons. Later, when the fire Spread to the State Theatre, one of these leads was taken on to. the roof of the BelvUe Hotel; but the low building was of little advantage to the firemen, who needed tO get Over the top t6 deal effectively with the fire. The wall along this alleyway was ah unbroken expanse Of concrete for two floors and offered no means of getting the hoses through low doWn. Scene of Destruction An extension ladder at the rear of Macduffs would have been invaluable to the brigade, but the only one it possessed wU» urgently needed On Colombo street The tWo top floors of Macduffs had large windows* fend when these broke the narrow building acted like a chimney and flames swept the floors from end to endSeveral times the top floors appeared to be free of fire; but suddenly the flames would leap afresh from the windows at the front and rear. When, about 6.30 a.m., the men succeeded in getting on to these floors, there Was nothing left but stemming, smouldering heaps of rubber footwear, china, and the variety Of Stocks of 0 department store. In SZB tangled equipment lay everywhere and Water Was four indies deep on the floor and over everything, burned and unburned. The twostoreyed part of the station was scarcely damaged by the fire* but water and smoke ruined everything in it. A good part of the library of recordings were badly scorched, but were not made altogether unusable. On the ground floor, water- dripped from all parts Of the ceiling, and poured through a large hole in Macduffs below the control room, the only part where the fire ate through to the ground floor. The shops in the front of the buildings had their stocks thoroughly soaked, Water ran in black and steaming streams dovVn the irislde Of the display windows, and a window full of crockery in Macduffs showed |Ugs-ful of hot, black Water to passersfire in the State Theatre did not teach its height until about 5.30. It broke through suddenly into the foyer facing the street* and With the assistance of a reporter of “The Press” and Mr Robinson* of Macduffs, a fresh lead was taken from Gloucester street outside Hays and run through the glass doors, A policeman, who was assisting* gave a lot of amusement to the few spectators when, betiding OVer the nozzle as the water came through, he got tH§ first spurt in hiS face. It lifted his helmet from his head, owners of Shops ih the State buildings Were hastily summoned, and Cash registers and other valuables were removed. Wreckage 1» State Theatre Inside the theatre, the mess was astounding. From the projection box Oh the Colombo street end the seats, roof, and floor were one charred mass Sloping toward the Screen. AboVe them twisted girders were all that was left of the roof. The walls were stripped and the stage had vanished. The building developed a crack during the fire on the Colombo street corner, but. this threatens no. danger to its security, The great difficulty the firemen faced in this part of the fire Was that there was no opening in the outside walls through which they could fight the flames. The crowning evil of the day came to the firemen oh their return to the station at a late hour in the moi'ning. At 11.35 a.m., when most of them were jiist about taking a rest from their labours, a malicious false alarm was received by a telephone call from Antigua street, and once again the engines screamed their way through the city streets, BOARD’S RESOLUTION APPRECIATION OP WOM OF BRIGADE Keen appreciation of the work of the superintendent find men WaS expressed at yesterday's meeting Of the Christchurch Fire Board. A resolution was passed •unanimously that the board was more than satisfied With the fight put up and was of the opinion that it reflected great credit ort the brigade. RfiPLACEMEiTT OF FILMS When he Was asked last evening about the replacement of the two films which were destroyed at the state Theatre, the manager (Mr L RDonald) said that if there were any negatives m Australia copies would he reprinted there, In the event Of there being no negatives* a cable message would be sent to America for copies of the films, No decision h&d ygt been made as to the carrying on of the programmes, Mr Donald added*