TRANSIT CAMP FIRE

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27862, 10 January 1956, Page 8

TRANSIT CAMP FIRE

Flats And Theatre Destroyed THIRTY PERSONS HOMELESS

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. January 9.

Flames up to 90 feet high reared through a 10,000-square foot, wooden block at Camp Bunn. Panmure, this evening, destroying seven flats, a picture theatre, a shop, Plunket Society rooms and two stores. About 30 persons are homeless. The blaze took out the centre of the transit camp, which was filled with 67 families from all parts of Auckland awaiting State houses. The alarm was given about 5.25 p.m. Mr Don Price, acting-manager of the camp, rushed from his house, took a fire extinguisher from a boilerhouse, called to a passerby to break the fire alarm and tackle*d the fire, which had already taken a firm hold in a small store behind the theatre. The fire spread with amazing rapidity. It leapt to the rafters, moved through into a neighibouring larg* l store, containing a quantity of paint, and along the back of the neighbouring flats. Residents rallied in force to carry out most of the contents of the flats. Two hundred men arriving from work on the train a few minutes after the fire broke out rushed in as reinforcements. However, the fire swept on and was not brought under control until the flats were a blackened ruin two hours later.

~Mr H. Oakley Browne, managingoirector of Oakley Theatres. Ltd., who ran the 300-seat theatre, saw the fire 3t 5.30 p.m., shortly after the alarm had been given. It was then only at one end of the theatre. He rushed home m his car, about 100 yards away, to get the keys to recover the nim, as he could see the theatre must gO u , By L the time he 6°t back the whole theatre was ablaze. The blaze could be seen for many miles around and attracted a large crowd. Police, traffic officers and fire police co-operated in keeping people at a safe distance. . The fire began behind the theatre in a building known as the main store, while the premises were still blazing a shopkeeper was giving awav ice cream which he thought would otherwise go bad. Furniture Saved Dozens of helpers poured into the flats to move furniture and belongings. They saved nearly everything. Another team worked as furiously but with greater difficulty in th*e grocery shop Much of the contents h< ? p had to be lett behind. the ? hop and the Picture theatre were insured. _• F^ es of furniture were stacked out±H Und . er tonight, as rosolunteers from the camp patrolled the area to stop looting. Tarpaultati™ ere >L ken P om 3 nearby railway station with police consent. Other ha??k 1 !5J ere J ent by a firm which » has its headquarters near the camp. nthp/ ri J^ at °r s ’ ashin g machines and other expensive items removed from by nei^hbours. USeS ‘ aken indoors Some of the furniture, after being ' nt? the opcn - had ,o b? agaln .. to save it from the spreading flames and from damage by water.