FIRE OUTBREAKS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1929, Page 9

FIRE OUTBREAKS

DAMAGE AT DUNEDIN. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, July 31. Damage amounting to several hundreds of pounds was caused by a fire, which broke out in the Commercial Bank of Australia buildings, Dowling Street, early this morning. The City Brigade received a call at 7.20 a.m., and the firemen experienced some difficulty in gaining entrance owing to the doors being heavily barred. The building was then thickly charged with black smoke. The seat of the outbreak was located in a work room occupied by the Arctic Fur Company, on the second floor, at the rear of the Bank premises. The fire had a firm hold, but once the Brigade brought a lead of water into action, it was quickly under control. The work room was completely destroyed, while the heavy floor joists burned through, and the flooring was demolished, leaving a large hole immediately above the rear office portion of the bank. The contents of the work room were not covered by insurance. The Bank premises suffered to some extent by water and smoke. The buildings are insured for £9OOO with various offices. This is the second outbreak which occurred in the same work room within the past 13 months. The previous fire was caused through a defective gas tsove or heater, and a large hole was burned in the Bank celling. It is surmised that torday’s outbreak originated from a fireplace on the east side of the work room.