Butchery gutted in night blaze

Press, 18 December 1986, Page 8

Butchery gutted in night blaze

An electrical fault might have caused the fire which damaged two shops in central Christchurch early yesterday morning, and forced three persons to flee their upstairs flat.

The fire started about 1 a.m. in a working area at the back of Harvey’s Super Meats, in Colombo Street just south of the intersection with Tuam Street. The butchery was gutted. Fourteen fire engines and 70 firemen from throughout Christchurch went to the blaze. Firemen used a ladder to rescue the three persons from an upstairs flat above Falconer’s Shoe Store, which is next to the butchery. The three, Mr Norman Harpur, his wife, Mrs Robynn Harpur, and another man, were not harmed.

They waited to be rescued bn a porch above the shoe shop because the heat was too intense for them to go downstairs.

Stock at Simpson’s Sewing Centre, which is beside the butchery, suffered water and smoke damage. The - owner of the butchery, Mr Alan Harvey, was reluctant last evening to talk about the fire. He said that the future of the butchery, which has a staff of four, was under consideration. The butchery has been there for about 15 years. Mr Harvey said that the fire might have been caused by an electrical fault. The shop was insured but the insurance would not cover the damage.

Staff spent yesterday cleaning the interior of the shop.