SPECTACULAR BLAZE

Evening Star, Issue 19617, 25 July 1927, Page 3

SPECTACULAR BLAZE

FIREMEN'S NARROW ESCAPE

NEARLY CAUGHT IH LIFT CRASH [Pee United Press Association .J WELLINGTON, July 25. Fire broke out at 4.54 yesterday morning in a large brick and concrete building, No. 68 Willis street, owned by Mr H. D. Bennett, and a large portion of. the .structure .was.practically gutted. The damage is estimated at several thousand pounds. The building, situated at the end of a blind avenue, was a three-story structure. The first floor was occupied by the Stokes Sign Service, the second by the Fluenzol Iroprietary and Harringtons, all of whom lost heavily. The sign-writing gear, the material for Fluenzol, and . other preparations, and wireless apparatus were destroyed. The building was owned by Mr H. D. Bennett, as also was the one adjoining, occupied by Miss Phyliss Bates and the Wellington Pleating Company. This was damaged by fire and water. The fire had a strong hold when the brigade arrived, and made a spectacular picture, with flames, and dense smoke pouring from the window's and through the roof of the main building. The brigade concentrated its attention on saving tlio neighboring premises, in which design it succeeded. Two firemen had a wonderful escape. They were standing in the lift well working, the life being then at the third floor. Suddenly they saw a blinding flash, indicative of fused electrical switches, and they jumped clear just in H time to he missed by the heavy hit crashed down from the top to the 'bottom of the well. Insurances include £4OO on the Fluenzol stock, in the Northern Office; and £2,000 on Harrington’s, in the Liverpool, London, and Globe.