Fire seen, but no call made

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33958, 26 September 1975, Page 2

Fire seen, but no call made

(New Zetland Press As social ion

WELLINGTON, September 25.

A fire which ravaged a four-storey Wellington city building this morning was noticed an hour before the fire brigade arrived—but no-one gave the brigade a call.

He had heard of at ;t least two persons who 1 saw the fire about 6 a.m„ { said Wellington’s Chief f Fire Officer (Mr D. A. < Varley) this evening. j

One person had approached him while firemen were battling the blaze, to apologise for not calling the fire brigade.

“He said he was passing the building and thought he saw' smoke, but because he wasn’t sure he didn’t call us,” Mr Varley said.

A Kelburn resident also saw’ the fire from his house window, but’ thinking it was steam took no further notice, he said. Mr Varley said he was not criticising the persons involved, but w ; as pointing out that the fire could perhaps have been more easily controlled had the brigade been called at 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m.

Pall of smoke When firemen arrived, the area was covered by a heavy pall of smoke, and it was not until they had been at the scene for about half an hour that the seat of the blaze was discovered. More than 100 firemen and

15 fire engines took an hour and a half to beat the fire. Seven firemen were treated

by ambulancemen for minor i injuries. The main city thoroughfares, Willis and Boulcott Streets, were closed to traffici as firemen fought the fire.> Moments of drama spiced the i battle, and six firemen were reported missing at varying stages. One firemen was feared for when the roof and floor of the top floor of the building collapsed at the height of the fire. However, he made his wav out on the onnosite side

of the building to the door he had entered.

Firemen were keeping watch over the smouldering remains this evening while insurance assessors and staff from the various firms based in the building sorted through the debris. Engineer’s report The future of the building rested on an engineer’s report to be presented tomorrow, said the general manager of McKenzies (Mr A. J. Palmer). Stock damage was estimated at more than SlOO.OOO, while repairs to the store might cost $15,000. ' Mr Palmer said that the store would not reopen for at least two weeks.

The cause of the fire would probably never be known. Mr Varley said.

Fire-prevention officers had inspected the building, but had found no indication of where it started.

The fire had probably started last night and smouldered for some time before fully igniting, Mr Varlev said.