PRESSING IRON CAUSES FIRE

Evening Star, Issue 22578, 20 February 1937, Page 14

PRESSING IRON CAUSES FIRE

BRIGADE ENDANGERED BY SMOKE TWO MEK OVERCOME [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 20. Caused by a heavy electric pressing iron in the workroom of Leo Blake and Co., clothing manufacturers, being left on, dense smoke issued from the Hope Gibbons Building in Dixon street shortly after 11 last night, and a section of the building narrowly escaped being gutted. The smoke came from bolts of cloth about the pressing tables. Six engines were rushed to the scene, and the firemen had great difficulty in ventilating the building to let out the heat. < Fireman H. Tobin was overcome before ho could don his respirator, and was taken to the hospital. Nearly an hour later Foreman J. M'Kenzie collapsed when carrying out salvage operations, and was also taken to the hospital. Tho fire burned through into Hope, Gibbons’s hulk store on the ground floor, and through above into F. Lee and Co.’s workshop. Parts of bicycles and*radio sets were stored on the ground floor, but little damage is reported there, the stock being covered with tarpaulins while the fire was fought. The Government placement offices on the first floor were filled with smoke, and the files badly marked. On the second floor a number of shelves were burnt in a corner, but the damage ■was confined to these and several bolts of cloth, which were singed. The damage done was mostly by smoke and water. It is understood that the building and contents were fully insured.