HOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28821, 16 February 1959, Page 7

HOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE

Waikuku Blaze Seen For Miles A two-bedroomed house at Waikuku beach was destroyed last evening in a spectacular fire which at its height could be seen for some miles. It had been built only three years and was vacant* at the'time of the fire. Tenants had been occupying it for the last two weeks and the owner, Mr A. Turnbull, of 135 River road, Avonside, had visited the house late in the afternoon. At one stage the fire .swept through 30 yards of scrub to threaten nearby houses and there was also danger of the fire leaping the road and into scrub, which runs - along the beach frontage for some considerable distance. The flames were licking at a paling fence just a few feet from a nearby house when Mr H. Novis, caretaker at the Waikuku Beach domain, arrived with the Domain Board’s emergency supply of 800 gallons of water on a tractor drawn trailer.

With the help .of other residents, the fire in .the scrub was put out. The Rangiora Volunteer Fire Brigade was alerted at 10.20 p.m. and on arriving at the fire was unable to find a suitable water supply but the house was already past saving. Late last night, the Rangiora County Council water tender was called out to subdue the remains of the fire.