HOTEL DAMAGED BY FIRE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28800, 22 January 1959, Page 12

HOTEL DAMAGED BY FIRE

Morning Outbreak At Greymouth

(From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, January 21. A fire in the rear portion of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, about 9.25 this morning, damaged portion of the kitchen, the boiler room and an upstairs bedroom. The Volunteer Fire Brigade effected a good save of the building which is situated in the heart of the town at the intersection of Guinness and Albert streets.

The fire, which began at the rear of a hot water cylinder attached to the wall of the boiler room, had a good hold when the brigade arrived. It had spread from the boiler room into the service duct leading into the kitchen, and from there the flames had gone up a wooden ventilator to the top floor. One lead of hose was run from Mackay street up through the double doors on the balcony to the back of the hotel, while a second was run from Guinness street round the back of the building to the seat of the outbreak. The water pressure was so great that it lifted two sheets of iron from the roof. Bedding and Effects Removed As soon as the occupants of the hotel realised the position, the staff, assisted by willing helpers, began removing bedding and personal belongings from the residential quarters on the first floor. A lot of these were hurled into Guinness street which fronts the hotel. Although the fire damage was confined mainly to the rear portion of the hotel on the ground floor and the one upstairs bedroom, a good deal of damage was done to other upstairs bedrooms, the diningroom and the large public bar by water. Wallpaper also suffered a good deal. The adjoining premises of Ruggs Transport. Ltd., also suffered from water and a large quantity of goods was removed in case the fire spread in that direction. Out of Commission One of Greymouth’s most popular hotels for travellers and tourists; the Duke of Edinburgh will be out of commission until the diningroom carpets and fittings dry out and the kitchen and boiler rooiq are restored. Meanwhile guests at the hotel have been accommodated at other hotels in the vicinity.