HOTEL ABLAZE

Evening Post, Issue 66, 15 September 1936, Page 11

HOTEL ABLAZE

SEVERE DAMAGE

ORIENTAL BAY FIRE

SOME NARROW ESCAPES

Severe damage was done late this morning to the Berkeley Private Hotel, 22 Oriental Terrace, when fire swept through the upper storey. About twelve rooms were completely gutted, and some six others were more or less severely damaged. . The fire is thought to have originated in a waste-paper basket in the corridor near the top Of the stairs on the southern side of the main block, and it is possible that a carelessly-thrown match of cigarette started the outbreak. It was first seen by a housemaid working on the upper floor at about 10.30. She warned the young porter, who immediately rang for the Fire Brigade. , At that time, according to the porter's statement, only smoke was visible, and nothing amiss could be observed from the front of the building. The fire spread with extreme rapidity, however, and had gained a strong hold when the brigade arrived. Only a matter of a few minutes intervened between the giving of the alarm and the arrival of the Fire Brigade, but during that time the fire swept through the central part of the upper storey, and flames were pouring from several windows. A GOOD SAVE. The firemen were quickly on the job, however, and in a very short space of time the fire was under control. Shortly after 11 o'clock some of the more adventurous guests were able to enter and begin salving their belongings. All the rooms affected by fire were those of guests, and in several cases their inmates lost all their possessions but what they stood up in. Nobody was hurt, though some very narrow escapes 'were recorded. Fortunately the children were outside at the time. A woman who was ill in bed in the north wing was got out very promptly. A housemaid working near the, source of the fire saw the sudden gush-of flame, and ran just in time to avoid being trapped. •• A strange thing about the fire was the way rooms with closed doors escaped serious damage.. In the front of the centre block a large room was completely gutted, but the next room to .it, separated only by the wall, was almost ejitirely undamaged. Towards the back of the house damage by smoke is very evident. , CONFINED XO UPSTAIRS. An inspection of the premises after the outbreak reveals that little damage apart from that caused by water was done on the ground floor. A large amount of water from hoses and broken water pipes poured through the ceiling on to the furniture below, but further damage, was averted by the use of tarpaulins. Around the stairs charred timbers and peeling wallpaper testified to the fierceness of the fire.Upstairs, blackness and crumbling woodwork met the eye in all directions. About the seat of the fire, whole walls were burnt away, ' and a > litter of charred and splintered wood lay about. The track of the fire through the building was very apparent. There was ample evidence that the flames had spread along the wallpaper, and in this way they had penetrated into rooms which otherwise would have been little .''touched. Theyl had also travelled in- the space above the ceiling, burning unnoticed until they broke out in another spot. A WOODEN STRUCTURE. The building is a twc-storeyed wooden structure composed of a central block and two wings. It contains about 60, rooms. The sittingroom, dining-room, and kitchen are, on the ground.floor, and most of the guests' rooms on the upper storey. The centre section; which suffered by far the most damage, contained about 20- rooms. \. • The building is part of the Knowsley Estate, and the tenant is Mr. L* F. Kelly. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly , moved into the premises only about three months ago, and have spent some £700 in improvements. According to Mn, Kelly, they were not fully insured against damage such as was sustained. BRIGADE'S FAST WORK. Some idea of the rapidity : with which the flames travelled can be gained by the fact that within 2 minutes 32 seconds of receiving the call, a Fire Brigade engine was at the scene of the outbreak. By then the upper' floor was well alight The call was received at the Central Station at 10.41 a.m. Two hose deliveries were used in combating the t fire.