FIRE AT DEVONPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 26, 31 July 1933, Page 8

FIRE AT DEVONPORT

HOUSES DESTROYED

THREE WOMEN BELIEVED

INJURED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day

At the height of the north-aasterlj; gale which raged throughout the weekend a serious fire broke out at Devonport at about 12.30. a.m. today.-Three adjoining houses were chiefly affected, two being destroyed and one gutted. A block of seven dwellings and alsa houses opposite were threatened, being saved only by the efforts of the Kr« Brigade. In. escaping from the upper storey ot a block-of flats, three women were slightly injured, and were taken to hospital. They were Mrs. Mary Cameron and her "daughter, Hope Cameron, and Mrs. Jess Carter, Mrs. Cameron's sister. The Camerons recently arrived from Dunedin, and Mrs. Carter is from Hastings. One injured her back, and the others were slightly burned. All arcs suffering from shock, but their condition is not serious.

A fireman liamed "Worthington had a hand burnt, but he was not admitted to hospital. The houses were owned by Miss Ada Wharf c, Mr. H. M. S. Bates, ami Mrs. M. Mboro respectively. Mr. Bates'a house was unoccupied. The wind swept sheets of flame and clouds of smoke and red-hot sparks across- the street, and though water was constantly played on the houses there the walls were scorched and chapped. At the direction of tho brigade, the occupants of the houses next to the three which were destroyed vacated them.

It is believed that three women received injuries through falling or jumping from a lire escape. The fire was observed from the naval training ship Philomel, which sent a detachment of men who did valuable work in preventing the spread of the flames and in patrolling the area. An electric power line fell on the pavement in front of a burning house, and firemen received numerous minor shocks. The major power line was quickly isolated.