Chch hotel fire ‘not suspicious’

Press, 6 August 1981, Page 6

Chch hotel fire ‘not suspicious’

The fire on the third floor of the United Service Hotel in Cathedral Square on Tuesday evening was not regarded as suspicious, said a Fire Service spokesman yesterday. The hotel’s new sprinkler system was given its first test when fire broke out in a service area. Water from one sprinkler put it out before the fire brigade arrived. The hotel’s manager, Mr . W. H. Menzies, said that the fire started in a rubbish bag. He regarded it as strange that only the top of the bag was burnt.

The volume of water from the sprinkler was sufficient to seep through the floor, and necessitated removal of carpet from the second floor conference room. Blistered paint near the service area was the only other damage.

“It goes without saying that we are pleased with the system,” Mr Menzies said. The sprinklers had been fully approved by fire personnel, yet by “doing it ourselves,” the hotel had saved more than expected from the sprinkler budget. “We had a sprinkler fitter and his mate employed on the staff. The cheapest quote we got from firms was $125,000, but. the final cost will be about $100,000,” Mr Menzies said.

A professional installation firm did some work, too. The first sprinklers were in position last August and now only minor tidying up will complete the job.

“We wanted to do it without affecting the charm and atmosphere of this old building. When it is complete, hardly any sprinkler pipes will be showing,” said Mr Menzies.