FIRE IN STREET

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 April 1938, Page 5

FIRE IN STREET

THRILLS FOR AUCKLANDERS [m PRESfr ' " / ■■ ■•AUCKLAND. April 19. Dull red" "flames and a terrific explosion startled a large crowd at the junctxm of the Great South'Road and Manukau Road,, this morning at 8.30 when the fusiiig of the underground electric cables/ caused a tieice outbreak of lire.

The footpath resembled a miniature Wairakei. the intense heal causing the bitumen to bubble, and sinoke shooting skyward from many vents in the pavement. The flames were enveloped Iji smoke of burning rubber and bitumen.

The Parnell and Romuera tiro brigrades arrived to see the flames shooting up a wooden power pole. After a crowd had gathered, explosions occurred at intervals, during a period of twenty minutes. It was only when the power was turned oil and the plugs wiihdrawn from the pole that the flames stopped, enabling the brigades to-quench the blazing, pole and footpath, with chemicals. '*+Two plq’reglass ' windows of J. AV. Newcastle’s coiifed.ionery and tobacconist's shop were cracked by the heat. “It was a terrible experience.’’ said Rewcastle. “My wife and 1 ran out of the buck shop as soon as w x e saw the ilames. The heat was so great that had-ilie wind not been blowing away from .tluj shop, the damage would have been serious.”