BLAZE IN STUART STREET

Evening Star, Issue 21193, 29 August 1932, Page 8

BLAZE I N STUART STREET

OUTBREAK IN BUSINESS PREMISES GOOD SAVE BY BRIGADE A blaze iu Lower Stuart street early on Saturday night in Mann’s Building, a two-story brick building, occupied by a number of business concerns, was responsible for a good save on the part of the City Brigade, and although the fire had a firm hold in the rear portion the brigade prevented serious damage being done to the building and the stocks of most of the firms and shops occupying the building, which extends from Messrs John Chambers and Son’s premises towards Moray place. The outbreak was discovered at 7.27, the alarm lining given from the street box at the corner of Stuart and Cumberland streets. The flames had then broken through the rear windows of the portion of the building occupied by Messrs W. Barnes and Co., shirt and softgoods manufacturers, and when the brigade arrived the fire was eating its way through the ceiling and the glass partition dividing Messrs Barnes and Co.’s workrooms from the front portion, occupied by H. Denford, mantle and shirt manufacturer. Two machines from the Central Station were promptly on the scene, and when they arrived the street was enveloped in thick smoke, and there was a large crowd of people viewing the spectacle. _ The South Dunedin machine and brigade were also summoned, and before the fire had actually died away members of the South Dunedin Brigade were engaged on salvage work. When the central firemen, under Deputy-superintendent R. Price, first attacked the blaze the flames had a. very strong hold in the workshop of Messrs Bames and Co. One line of hose was taken up the stairway into Denford’s workroom, and the fire was prevented from spreading. At the back of the building the flames were leaping from the windows, but the outbreak was quickly subdued, and danger of the fire spreading was prevented within a few minutes of the arrival of the brigade. By the judicious use,of water and the use of salvage sheets and sawdust the water damage was reduced to a minimum. The outbreak started under a work bench in Messrs Barnes and Co.’s workrom, and had evidently been smouldering for some time when it was discovered. There was no sign of fire when the premises were closed at midday. The workroom, walls, and ceiling were badly damaged, and all the windows were broken by the heat and the flames. The only damage done to the portion of the building occupied by Denford’s was to a part of the ceiling and slight damage by water to the stock. The water percolated through the floors to the shops occupied by Skene’s Ltd., seedsmen, and J. E. C. Leith, fruiterer, on the ground floor. Only slight damage was caused in these shops, as the brigade used salvage sheets to cover the stock. The building is owned by Mr Mann, and Messrs Moore, Moore, and Nichol are the controlling agents. It was insured for £3,000 with the Standard Insurance Company and £I,OOO with the Victoria. The plant of Messrs Barnes and Co. was insured for £530 with the 1.0. A., and further plant (which was not damaged) was insured for £B2O with the Sun Insurance. The stock was also insured witli the Sun Office for £2,600. Denford’s stock, machinery, and plant were covered for £BSO with the Standard, Skene’s Ltd. for £2,070 (stock and plant) with the 1.0. A., Leith’s stock for £250 with the Eagle Star, and Miss Millea (confectioner) was covered by £470 on the stock and contents, which suffered practically no damage. Deputy-superintendent Price stated this morning that he was extremely pleased with the manner hi which his officers and men had carried out their work; and Mr W. Barnes, of Messrs W. Barnes and Co., paid a high tribute to the work of the brigade. Mr Barnes said that with the exception of a few machines, which would ho held up for a few davs, the firm would be able to carry oil immediately. Their main stock aud plnut were untouched. The greatest damage'had been dune to the building partitions.