FIRE IN THE CITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 146, 23 June 1938, Page 23

FIRE IN THE CITY

HOSIERY FACTORY DAMAGED The biggest Are which has taker place in Wellington for some months occurred just after 7 o'clock last even ing, when serious damage was caused to Prestige (N.Z.) Limited's hosier} . factory in Home Street. Prompt actior by the Fire Brigade confined the outbreak to the box-room on the second floor, where the fire apparently origin' ated, and to stock in a partly-manufac- ' tured condition. An early estimate placed the damage at over £5000, but it will- be some time before an accurate value can be reached. The building is a brick and concrete structure with a floor space of 25,000 square feet, and the part where the fire occurred is of three storeys. The machine-room, containing much valuable plant, is separated from the box and storage rooms by reinforced concrete walls. The fire was first detect ed by two youths working in a room adjoining the box-room.. No one was working in the box-room at the time, though about 60 employees were eni gaged in work about the premises. The youths at first attempted to deal with the fire with an extinguisher, but found this impossible. ' Three engines from the Central Station and one from Constable Street answered the alarm, which was given at 7.20 p.m. When the brigade arrived flames were leaping from windows at the western end of the north wing, aided by the southerly wind. The new block of buildings on the south side, fronting Pirie Street, was threatened, as it ( was separated from the burning structure by only a narrow light area. A number of leads of hose from Home Street and Kent Terrace were used. Several hoses were operated from hydrants from as far as 300 yards away. One lead crossed the tram-line to Newtown and to Lyall Bay via Constable Street. This necessitated several Lyall Bay trams being diverted through ' the Hataitai tram tunneL

One hose was operated from the roof to prevent the spread of the fire, and the outbreak was isolated and attacked by several other leads. 'The inflami mable contents of the box-room were I destroyed, and a portion of the partition separating the room from another where partly-manufactured *j hosiery was stored, was * burnt ' s through. The surrounding concrete £ walls aided the firemen in preventing ° the flames from spreading further. J From the outside the spectator* who n quickly gathered could see very little '" except the black smoke which poured a northwards over the city. The narrow J- street prevented , many spectators ■■ from approaching the threatened * building. Householders nearby feared 1 for the safety of their premise*, but at e no time were these in real danger. No damage was suffered by the e machinery. The value of the. plant v near the seat of the fire is approxie mately £26,000. The damage was not e such as would affect the working of <■■ the factory, and today work was car- * ried on as usual. In the meantime, an £ inventory of the damage 1* being made.