Busy Saturday for firemen

Press, 12 May 1980, Page 6

Busy Saturday for firemen

Two persons are in. hospir tai and a house was destroyed after three separate fires in Christchurch early on Saturday morning. Nicola Black, aged 16, of 142 Shortland Street. Aranui, suffered bums to- the legs when she was trapped in a smoke-filled caravan she was using as a bedroom. Her parents, Mr and Mrs J. Black, were awakened by their daughter’s screams about 3 a m. She had locked the caravan door in case of prowlers but Mrs Black managed to force a window and help her to escape. The fire mav have started from a cigarette not properly extinguished. Miss Black was taken to the Burwood Hospital where she spent the night in isolation. Her condition was des-

cribed yesterday as satisfactory. ' " Terence Gilchrist, a£ed 36, of 4 Robin Street, Burwood, was asleep in the lounge .of; his home early, on Saturday, when a kerosene heater ploded. Mr Gilchrist cbllapJ sed, overcome by the smoke,! after fighting the blaze with! his family and a friend who was staying there. Mr Gilchrist .was TecriWr. ing in- the .4 pital yesterday, his conoitfori ' being reported as coirffortable. : ■ -iS;, The third fire, about 4 a.m., occurred at 98 Bridge Street, South New Brighton, m a house ■ that had-been unoccupied for about two years, ■ The police said that the fife, which began in the lounge, destroyed the house. Engines from the New Brighton and Central [fire stations attended the,’, -fire* The police are treating -Jhe fire, as suspicious and 'CXB, investigations are continuing.