ANOTHER CITY FIRE

Evening Star, Issue 19777, 30 January 1928, Page 6

ANOTHER CITY FIRE

BRIGADE'S SAVE COMMENDED The night of January 29 must be written down as one of Fire Superintendent Napier’s luckiest nights. The brigade had no sooner returned from a small outbreak in Cumberland street when the alarm bells clanged. The call was received from a policeman who was on duty in Princes street near the Octagon. When the brigade reached the main thoroughfare a dense pall of smoke was veiling the street. The rapid locating of the fire seemed almost impossible, as from the smoke it seemed that the lire could have been burning in any one of the big buildings on either side of the street. But, as Superintendent Napier stated to-day, his luck was in, and the first building entered was that on the east side, occupied on the ground floor ,by F. and R. Woods, drapers. The fire was located in the workroom of G. W. Reilly, tailor, but had obtained a good hold. Three doors were smashed down by the efficient brigadesmen, and a lead of water was brought up the stair way from Princes street. It was a difficult fire to fight,_ for action from the rear was impossible. While water was being poured on to the first floor salvage men were working at feverish speed in F. and 11. Woods’s shop, placing tarpaulins over the stock and spreading sawdust on the floor. The brigade made a splendid save in Mr Reilly’s premises, the fire being confined mainly to one room, though the flames also buret through the wall into one of the rooms occupied by Mr A. G. Neill, solicitor. Some valuable legal documents and references were destroyed, and their replacement will entail many months’ work for the staff. Mr Reilly’s fitting room was completely gutted, and a certain amount of damage from smoke and water was done to the manchester, dress, and mercery departments of F. and R. Woods. The Civic Billiard Room, on the top floor, was also damaged slightly by smoke. The save was distinctly creditable. Ten tenants occupy the building, which is owned by the Baird Trust. “If the brigade had been at the Cumberland street fire when the alarm was sounded, and the South Dunedin Brigade alone had to handle the fire, it was quite likely that a block fire would have taken place,” stated Mr Napier to-day. “We were also lucky in being able to locate the fire so quickly. It was certainly one of my lucky nights.” This is the second city fire within a week that the brigade has extinguished with promptitude. In both cases the fires had serious aspects, but the brigade reduced the losses to a minimum. Mr F. E. Woods, of the drapery establishment, declared that morning that Dunedin had every reason to ho proud of its brigade and the gentleman in charge (Superintendent Napier and Deputy-superintendent Salmon). Apart from the fine save effected, the brigade had saved thousands of pounds loss by their salvage work. The salvage machine used by the brigade has been a splendid acquisition to the plant. The machine is the old Roslyn fire engine. When it had passed its stage of usefulness as a fire engine the board intended selling it, but ultimately adopted Superintendent Napier’s suggestion that it should be retained ns a salvage machine. The machine is kept ready for all fires, tarpaulins, bags of sawdust, and brooms are carefully stowed in the compartments, and the machine has paid for itself in the good work done in the two recent outbreaks. The building is insured in the Standard Office and Mr Reilly’s stock is insured bv the Guardian Company. F. and R.'Woods’s drapery stock is fully covered in the Victoria and Halted Offices.