Fire Destroys Waitara Shops

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30823, 7 August 1965, Page 3

Fire Destroys Waitara Shops

(N.Z. Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, August 6. A fierce fire, fanned by a southerly wind, swept through a block of three shops in McLean street, Waitara, early today, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. Three firemen were slightly injured when a verandah on which they were standing collapsed at the height of the blaze The Waitara Volunteer Fire Brigade answered the call at 2.10 a.m. and had the fire under control within an hour after battling against windwhipped flames.

Two of the premises, Mr Bruce Purdie’s drapery and an electrical store occupied by Mr Colin King were gutted. The second storey of an adjoining grocery run by Mr Roger Waters was destroyed, but the downstairs space, which contained most of his stock, suffered only heat and water damage. The blaze is believed to have started in the drapery. The fire was first noticed by Mr T. Hermann, nightwatchman at Borthwicks freezing works nearby. When the two machines from the Waitara brigade arrived shortly afterwards, the block was a roaring inferno. Three firemen, who climbed a ladder on to the verandah to fight the blaze, fell when the corrugated-iron structure

caved in and crashed to the footpath. One fireman, R. Neill, was badly bruised and Messrs F. Ainsworth and R- Terrill suffered cuts and abrasions. Another fireman, Mr J. Limmer, suffered a cut to his hand, which later required

three stitches. Several other I members of the 20-strong brigade were slightly injured! when plate-glass windows blew] out. Hoses played on the east wall of the electrical store prevented the blaze from breaking through into an adjoining cake shop. It was the biggest fire in Waitara’s commercial area since an electrical store was destroyed on an opposite corner about 10 years ago.