Evidence points to arson in big Chch fire

Press, 10 April 1978, Page 1

Evidence points to arson in big Chch fire

Electric heaters which were switched on and turned face down on to the carpets are believed to have caused the fire at 37 Manchester Street on Saturday evening.

Damage to the building and contents could be as high as 5300.000, although assessors have vet to

finish their investigations Thick palls of black smoke could be seen over a wide area of Christchurch early on Saturday evening as fire burned through the upper floor above the wholesale showroom of the Direct Furniture Company, Ltd, and Eric Wood Motor-cvcles, Ltd.

The fire, which broke out at '.15 p.m., appeared to have started in an unoccupied .-toreroom at the top of the stairs, and spread up the wall and along the ceiling. The police are treating the fire as arson, but they had no leads late last evening, according to Detective Senior-Sergeant J. Ell. of the Christchurch C. 1.8. There were three seats of fire, but the main one was in a small room at the top of the stairs. It is believed that electric heat-

ers caused the fire. No door had been forced in the building.

The Fire Service snorkel and extension ladder p’ yed water on the roof of the two-storeyed building for about an hour before the fire was under control.

Flames and sparks were visible for only a short while but smoke continued to billow from the front of the roof right along the length of the building The tire did not spread to the vacant New Windsor private hotel building at the corner of Manchester Street and Welles Street, which adjoins Eric Wood Motor-cycles. Eleven fire engines from the city and some suburban fire stations brought dozens of firemen to the fire. A big crowd came to watch as night fell.

The thick smoke at times caused coughing amongst the crowd and firemen who entered the building wore breathing

apparatus before they smashed the top-floor windr vs out. Traffic officers blocked off Manchester Street between Moorhouse Avenue and St Asaph Street as fire tenders took up most of the street in that area. Ambulances stood by but no-one was injured. About 7 p.m., when the fire appeared to be under control, firemen started covering up furniture in the showrooms to prevent further water damage. Damage to the building was estimated at 5150.000, said Mr Peter Knight, who owns the building in partnership with Mr A. R. Idiens. He said that the building had been bought after a fire about 12 years ago, and in its present state would be impossible to rebuild. Damage to the showroom and furniture in Direct Furniture's showroom would be about $60,000, said a director of the company, Mr P. Davies.

Although not burnt, the showroom and contents were damaged by smoke and water. The company had leased the premises for only six months, since the previous owner, McKeown Furniture, Ltd, went into receivership.

The premises of the Canterbury Coaching College suffered smoke damage, md the 15 tutors and 70 students would be looking for new rooms, said a spokesman, Mrs Christine Lyons.

“It is a terrible blow, especially to a private enterprise,” she said. “We were just getting to the stage where people we had tutored were recommending other students to us.”

The warehouse of E. Allan Brooker, Ltd, toy and stationery wholesalers, was extensively damaged and the police said that 95 per cent of the contents were destroyed. Mr Knight said that 'their damage could amount to $40,000.