McLEAN’S FIRE

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 September 1928, Page 2

McLEAN’S FIRE

BRIGADE’S DIFFICULT TASK.

“The worst experience I have ever had with the Brigade,” said one wet, smoke-grimed member of the Greymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade, as he turned his . back on the ruins of Messrs Duncan McLean’s premises at five o’clock yesterday, afternoon. He added that he was on his way to work when the bell rang, just before 8 a.m.

“It was a case of leaving work to carry bricks,” he said, as he tried to , wring the water out of his sodden coat. “I’ve been at it solidly for eight hours. Just a few minutes ago, a bin exploded in the store, and, along with half a brick, it landed a bit too close to me and my mate. If the wind had dropped, we would have had a good chance of settling the blaze in half .an hour, but the strong breeze had us beaten. At one time, I wouldn’t have given more than half-a-dollar for the chance of saving the Park Hotel. The smoke was about the worst of oui’ troubles. It was the worst I have ever struck; as a matter of fact, my eyes are so sore that I can’t even see as far as the other side, of the street. s The smoke and fumes from soda, salt, acid and other things made our job very hard, and a smoke helmet would have come in handy. Then the .poor water pressure was another hurdle. It was lucky that we had the Dennis, and that gave us a fighting chance of ..confining the fire to MeLoan’s. Tributes to the efforts of thik firemen are general, and it is admitted that the Greymouth Brigade is second to none in its keenness. In fact, one ■well-known ex-member, who retired recently after very lengthy service, could not resist the call yesterday morning, and was to- be -seen in the front, line, “doing his bit” with his former fellowmembers. Their work was rendered .more unpleasant by the cold wind, and .heavy showers of rain. A dense pall of smake overhung the Herbert Street locality all day yesterday, and the smouldering embers of what had been one of Greymouth’s best-known business places, attracted a big crpwd of spectators. The firm of McLean’s was established in 1865.