FIRE DAMAGE TO BUILDING

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 12

FIRE DAMAGE TO BUILDING

Heavy Looses By Some Tenants

Between £35,000 and £40,000 worth of damage was caused by the fire in the “Sun” building in Worcester street on Wednesday, night. Structural damage to the rear of the building forms a \ major part of the loss, perhaps £25,000 worth. ' \ Damage to the stock and equipment of tenants on the first floor to the rear of the building is greater than was thought on Wednesday, when no assessment equid be made because of the heavy smoke and the possible dinger of floors collapsing; but the damage to the building is not as great as was feared. i City Council engineers inspected the building yesterday, and it was found that the building in front had not suffered materially, while to the rear it, was not immediately dangerous. Had it been, an immediate demolition order would have been made. At the rear of the building there is fairly severe damage to the walls, which were old, mainly brought about the girders buckling, warping and being pushed and pulled through the heat. The movement of the walls caused some damage to the walls and plaster of the neighbouring Phoenix Insurance Company’s building, but it has been found to be sound apart from minor damage. Parts of the “Sun” building at the rear will have to come down, but a complete engineering report is still to be made. “Business as Usual” "Business as usual, thanks to the firemen,” read a sign on one of the ground floor businesses yesterday. On the ground floor there was water damage only, with steady drips still coming through the ceiling yesterday afternoon. The National Cash Register Company, on the west side of the building from the centre of the fire, also suffered some damage through water. The heaviest sufferers were tenants on the rear of the first floor, where only tangled wreckage, charred timber and a shaky floor remained yesterday, with only the girders remaining of the roof. A Venetian blind laundry service, a teddy bear manufacturer, a wool-broking firm and a silkscreen printing firm lost all equipment, stock and records, and a nearby baked enamel sign company had all equipment wrecked. Cause Not Found

The fire brigade had been unable to determine the origin o( the fire, the Chief Fire Officer (Mr L. R. Osmond) said. It could have started in any of three or four places where there was deep-seated charring. Mr Osmond expressed appreciation of the services of the men of the brigade, some of whom had been on leave but had turned out to assist in what was a good save considering that theffire was well away before the alarm was given and could have spread in the high wind. He also thanked the police, traffic officers and St. John Ambulance officials for the help they had given.