STUCK ON THE BEACH

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 51, 23 November 1929, Page 10

STUCK ON THE BEACH

fire brigade engines in DIFFICULTIES STRANGE HAPPENINGS AT LYALL BAY The fact, just marie public, that the powerful fire engine from the Miramar Fire Station is at the Central Station for thorough examination, is due to a curious chapter of accidents—or incidents— following a fire at Moa Point, Lyall Bay. The brigade from Miramar had attenßed a call to a house fire, and on arriving on the scene found no water available. The engine was thereupon run on to the beach, and sea water was pumped on to' the flames. When the firemen went to mount the engine to drive away it was found that the rising tide had caused It to sink In the sand up to its axles, and it was impossible to move it by its own power. The new engine from Constable Street was taken to the spot, but was not only not able to pull the other one out, but Itself became buried in the sand up to the chassis. Matters were now serious in the event of another call being received, so the engine from the Central Station in town was summoned to help the Constable Street engine out of trouble. It proved, however, to be of no more help to the Constable Street Station engine than that engine was to the Miramar machine. A five-ton lorry was requisitioned, and this, with the city engine, rescued the Constable Street engine, which added Its own power to the task. It then took the combined efforts of the three to rescue the Miramar engine, by which time the tide had risen up to the engine, into which salt water and sand had penetrated. The Miramar engine is now at the Central Station for a thorough examination and cleaning. No material damage has been done.