FIRE DANGER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 33, 9 February 1943, Page 3

FIRE DANGER

BORSTAL INSTITUTE

INMATES EVACUATED

As the"result of a fire in the vicinity of Point Halswell Borstal Institution for Women, it became necessary to evacuate the buildings about 10 o'clock last night. The evacuation was not a simple matter, some 70 young women having to be removed. In a very short space of time, however, all the inmates were marshalled, and, scantily clad, and each girl with a blanket as a wrap, they proceeded . towards the beach. It was not considered safe to use the road, and therefore the party had to trek through the plantation and make their way down a sheer clift' to Shelly Bay. Considering that the only light was by means of the matrons' torches, and the fact that there were three cripples in the party who had to be carried, and one young woman who had just returned from hospital that day, it was a creditable performance to get the party down intact and without mishap. The calm resourcefulness of the superintendent. Miss Trevor, was an inspiration to the staff, and the girls, whose cheerful and co-operative attitude throughout an unenviable experience, was most commendable. After remaining on the beach lor about two hours, word came through that the fire had been extinguished. and the girls were taken back to the institution in Army lorries.