Big fire at Invercargill

Press, 17 April 1978, Page 6

Big fire at Invercargill

PA Invercargill A major fire in Invercargill yesterday afternoon gutted two floors of a central city 'building and badly damaged shops and offices on the ground floor. The Invercargill Fire Brigade received the call at 2.14 p.m. and soon afterwards the police and C. 1.8. were also on the scene. About 14 persons were in the building when the fire broke out. All but one person got down the fire escape safely, a young woman who i had to be helped down by firemen. It is believed that the fire began on the first floor but it is not known what started it.

One of the ground-floor shops, a sports-goods store, was stocked with ammunition and because of the danger of explosion the big crowd which had gathered was moved well back by the police. About half a ton of rifle ammunition and shotgun cartridges was removed from the shop to lessen the danger. Surrounding roads were closed to traffic for more than three hours as firemen fought the blaze. The firemen had to leave the building when it was found to be structurally unsafe. The roof collapsed soon after, and then the ceiling of the first floor fell in. The fire brigade had the. blaze under control about 4.15! p.m.