BIG FIRE AT WAIOURU

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28254, 16 April 1957, Page 12

BIG FIRE AT WAIOURU

Damage Put At £50,000 (New Zealand Press Association) WANGANUI, April 15. Fire destroyed four buildings, each of more than 4500 square feet, at Waiouru Military Camp early this morning., In addition to the four buildings, the value of which is estimated to be more than £30,000, valuable equipment, text books, and lecture material were destroyed. It is believed that the total damage will exceed £50,000. The buildings destroyed were those of the Army Tactical School, the School of Army Administration, and two buildings of the Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps, which included a cookery wing, housing valuable equipment.

The fire, which was first noticed about 5 a.m., is believed to have started in the School of Army Administration, spread to the Tactical School, and then in a southerly direction to the Army Service Corps buildings. A fairly strong wind was blowing. Vehicles in an adjacent artillery park were caught by the flames, and one very valuable set of radar equipment in one vehicle was lost, and another damaged. The first brigade to arrive was that stationed in the camp. When it arrived the fire had too strong a hold, and little could be done except to concentrate on saving nearby buildings. Two units were sent from the State Forest Service’s brigade at Karioi, six miles away, and four firemen from Ohakune, 14 miles away, went to Waiouru in a car. An engine and trailer pump were sent by the Taihape Fire Brigade, 19 miles away, but the blaze was well under control when they arrived. The buildings, of wood z.nd iron, were between four and five years old. Adjoining buildings were evacuated, but they were only scorched, and later this morning they were reoccupied.