WOMEN'S HOME DESTROYED

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 22, 26 July 1927, Page 8

WOMEN'S HOME DESTROYED

INMATES' NARROW ESCAPE

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day A serious fire broke out in the Salvation Army Women >s Industrial Home at the corner of Earl and Chuitou. streets, Parnell, shortly before 11" o'clock last night. The outbreak originated in the laundry at the back of the home, and the whole building of two stories in the front and three at the back was completely demolished in. three-quarters of an hour. One house adjoining was damaged and three on. the opposite side of the road were badly scorched. The twenty-five inmates of the home and the staff had a ver>r narrow escape. "' The alarm was not given until after a large portion of the building was in. flames. The girls were all asleep at the time and had to rush out in their night attire through dense masses of smoke which filled the corridors. Several girls, when taken to safety, were in a very distressed condition. Somo were actually struck by blazing pieces of timber and all were wet through They were immediately taken to the Parnell Police Station, where arrangements wero made for their accommodation for the night. The fire was one of the most speatacular seen in Auckland during recent years. The building was a very old one and it was surrounded by houses whieU had been standing for many years. Fortunately the wind was in the easterlydirection, otherwise it is probable that the whole of the block would have been destroyed. The City and Parnell Fire Brigades were soon on the scene after the alarm was given, but it was then found that practically no water was available at the hydrants. Onlytwo leads could be used and these proved useless. At the outset the water could not be made to spout more than six feet from either nozzle, although, later a slightly better pressure was obtained. The force of the wind was -so strong that blazing pieces of wood wore hurled into the adjoining streets. The flames rose in a roaring mass over 100 feet into the air. A large number of people were awakened in the surrounding houses by the glare and rushed into the pouring rain in their night clothes. Realising the danger of the outbreak spreading, attention was diverted by the brigades from the home itself. This large building was almost a total loss within ten minutes, and within another, forty minutes the structure crashed ta the ground, leaving only three chimneys standing.

Extraordinary scenes were witnessed as the neighbours rushed out into tKa rain bearing their household goods with, them. A horse, stabled at the back ofl the home, was trapped iv the flames. Its screams were heard for some dis« tance, but the heat was so intense that; no one could approach the stable.