LACK OF WATER TO FIGHT FIRE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31340, 10 April 1967, Page 1

LACK OF WATER TO FIGHT FIRE

A lack of water hampered firemen fighting a fire in Macmillan avenue, Cashmere, yesterday afternoon.

The main fire was in a macrocarpa tree of about 60ft. Flames reached high above the tree, and scattered ash started several small fires. Two small sheds were destroyed and a motor-scooter,

bicycle, and trailer were damaged beyond repair. Hedges and shrubs were also burnt

About four yards of hedge were burnt while firemen stood nearby with an empty hose.

The delay in obtaining water occurred a number of times before the fire was considered by the firemen to be out Some of the firemen were upset by the delay as was the owner of the property behind, towards whose house the hedge was burning. The address given in the fire call was Macmillan avenue and one unit from the Central Station and one from Sydenham went to the home of Mr R. Roberts, of 39 Macmillan avenue.

An attempt was made to use water from a hydrant in Macmillan avenue but the pressure proved insufficient

The units used their own supply of 200 gallons, which was rapidly exhausted. Both units returned for a further supply of water.

The hedge destroyed bordered Mr Roberts’s property and the property directly behind his. Another stretch of hedge destroyed bordered the two properties behind Mr Roberts’s property. The access to these two properties is in Stambridge place. In Hackthorne road, slightly higher than the entrance to Stambridge place and on the opposite side of the road is a fire hydrant. The distance from this hydrant to the fire was about 175 yards. One of the units came down' Stambridge place to the fire but it used its own 200 gallons. A crowd gathered in the property off Stambridge place and some of the men carried buckets of water to attempt to put the hedge out while hoses were being uncoupled or coupled and there was no water. The water being exhausted, the firemen left Neighbours continued attacks on small fires for some time afterwards with garden hoses.