FIRE IN LAMBTON QUAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 50, 28 August 1934, Page 5

FIRE IN LAMBTON QUAY

STOREROOMS GUTTED

BRIGADE'S GOOD SAVE

A fire which broke out on the top floor of Hannah's Buildings (back portion), Lambton Quay, late yesterday afternoon, was soon suppressed as a result of excellent work by the Fire Brigade. The fire had its origin in tho j storerooms of Mr. Charles Watts, fancy goods importer, and completely gutted the premises. The fact that there were quantities of flimsy goods and celluloid 'articles in the rooms caused tho fire to gain a rapid hold, and by tho time tho brigade arrived the flames were breaking through tho roof. Other premises on the same floor, occupied by L. G. Cummins, manufacturers' representative, and G. 11. Tiller and Co., carpet planning and sowing specialists, were undamaged, the fire being confined to the fancy goods warehouse. Water, however," found its way to tho floors below doing slight damage to some of the rooms, including those on the first floor occupied by Signor Cesaroni. Several windows on the north wall of a building in the same block were broken by tho heat. Tho outbreak occurred when many city workers were homeward-bound, and it was not long before Lambton Quay in the vicinity of Hannah's was thronged with hundreds of spectators. The fire was very spectacular at times, huge tongues of flame shooting skyward through the roof, (while the dense smoke enveloped tho surrounding buildings. A ducking was received by some of the onlookers, water from one of tho hoses on one occasion finding its way to tho opposite side of tho street, where shop windows wore liberally sprinkled. BREATHING APPARATUS USED. The Firo Brigade received the call at 5.39 p.m., aud when tho engines arrived the firo had a strong hold. Three engines were dispatched from the Central Station and one each from the Constable Street and Thorndon Stations. Three lends of hose were brought into action, two from The Terrace, which overlooks the building, and one from Lambton Quay. One-of tho leads from Tho Terrace was played-on to the fire from a, fire escape, and tho other was directed through the roof on to the scat of tho blaze. Considerable difficulty was experienced in bringing the load from Lambton Quay into play, as it had to be dragged up four flights of stairs and around numerous corners. Tho outbreak was un-der control within a few minutes, after which only one lead was necessary to cope, with uiinor patches of fire. Owing to the inflammable nature of the' contents of the warehouse small fires kept breaking out at intervals for about two hours, but wore extinguished by hand. _ The dense smoke hampered the operations of the firemen, but as the firo was on the top floor and had broken through the roof, it had plenty of outlets. Breathing apparatus, however, had to bo used by some of the men. For a considerable time after the outbreak, firemen were engaged on all floors in sweeping the water down a Uftwcll, from where it escaped. ■*