EARLY MORNING BLAZE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1932, Page 9

EARLY MORNING BLAZE

TWO BUILDINGS LOST

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

MASTERTON, This Day

One of the most spectacular fires seen in Jlasterton for some considerable time occurred early' this morning, when a twostory wooden building in Chapel street, occupied by Associated Live Stock Auctioneers, Ltd., and as a boarding-house and the W.F.C.A. Bulk Store adjoining, wore completely destroyed. The alarm was given at about 2.25 a.m., and the fire then had a big hold, the names having broken through the roof. Hampered at the outset by a poor water supply the brigade's task was a difficult one, and it was some time before a good force o£ water was directed on to the outbreak. The whole of the Associated Stock Auctioneers' building was soon a seething mass of flames, which illuminated the town' far and wide. The heat was intense, and this added to the brigadesmen's difficulties. The W.F.C.A. bulk store was soon alight, and in about an hour shared the same fate as the other building, in which the fire originated, both being burnt to the ground. The brigade" concentrated its efforts on stopping the lire's progress in other directions, and as the two buildings demolished were more or less detached on all.sides their task was lightened, although the intense heat was affecting the W.F.CA.'s furniture factory on the south side, while the Plunkct Rooms, a concrete building, were subjected to a gruelling test. It was fortunate that there was no wind, or the outbreak might have been disastrous. After about an hour's strenuous fight the brigade had the fire under control. It is reported that the occupants of the boarding-house portion of the' destroyed building had a nai> row escape.