FIRE GUTS HOUSE

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30733, 24 April 1965, Page 23

FIRE GUTS HOUSE

Prebbleton Blaze

Fire gutted a 40-year-old. five-roomed wooden house, at 17 Edward street, Prebbleton, yesterday morning. Only the severely damaged wails and iron roof were left standing, and the fire brigade estimated the damage at 90 per cent. The house iS owned by Mr E. Walker, aged 76, a pen- ' sioner. He lives in a’ caravan i at the back of the house. Mr S. Cross, his wife, who is a ' niece of Mr Walker, and their 1 family were living in the -house, which was partly in.sured.

Fire engines from the Sockburn and Sydenham station answered the alarm at 11.4 a.m. The Paparua County Council water tender was also called out. The firemen used water pumped from a watercourse 800 ft away to put out the blaze.

Mr and Mrs Cross and family were out at the time. Mr Walker was cooking chops. He said -that he opened the door of the front room, and it was in flames. He escaped from the house, and neighbours gave the alarm by telephone.