FIRE GUTS NAPIER THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 217, 10 June 1944, Page 6

FIRE GUTS NAPIER THEATRE

Loud Explosion Caused FLAME STRIKES ACROSS STREET

Dominion Special Service.

NAPIER, June 9.

The most disastrous fire in recent years in the business section of Napier complptely gutted the Regent Theatre this morning. The fire is believed 10 have started in a small room under the building and to have spread from there to the

roof. Cleaners had been through the theatre this morning, when there was no sign of lire At about 9.30, when the doors, were again opened, two people discovered smoke ill the corridor ieauiug tq. the iheutre entrances, and they immediately dashed out of the building. Their quick action proved fortunate lor themselves. Hai-dlv had they cleared the entrance of the building than a, huge sheet of flame 30 feet square shot out of he building behind them and struck «itb lightning-like ferocity across the affect, blistering the paint on woodwork buildtags (50 feet away. , , , . 1 loud explosion followed by a whoosh of llame was the only warning passersby had. A ear across the. street from the theatre entrance was enveloped and spattered with glass fragments, but the driver was able to move tty vehicle before severe damage occurred. I'ortunateIv the' entrance of the theatre was clear of the public. The cause of the explosion is unknown. . The opinion that the blaze started in a small room underneath the theatre is held by the superintendent ot the Napier Fire Brigade, Mr. G. Drummond. I roui this room the fire burned through the floor of the theatre and into the roof, from witch smoke began to pour m a thick black cloud. So dense 'yas the smoke that many believed that the films find projection equipment were ablaze, but actually these were saved >ntact. through the projection box being of fireproof reinforced concrete. _ Four engines from the Napier and Port brigades and the recently acquired combination pump threw six leads . ot water into the theatre from the mains. When the brigade arrived the firemen were forced first to light ther way through the blazing corridor before they could obtain entrance to the theatre proper to concentrate on the seat of the fire. Ihetr only indans of access was through an emergency door opening on the roof ot the theatre from the dress circle. Jfter the blaze iu the roof had been brought under control, a survey of too interior of the theatre revealed tull-scale damage. The ceiling bad been entirely "lifted and not a seat remained undamaged, most of them having been reduced to a skeleton of Iron framework and twisted springs. The stage portion of the theatre had almost disappeared. The insurance on the building is approximately £12,0(10, part of which is held in Nhpier. .