AUCKLAND STORES GUTTED BY FIRE: HEAVY DAMAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 September 1949, Page 7

AUCKLAND STORES GUTTED BY FIRE: HEAVY DAMAGE

AUCKLAND, Sept. 29 (P.A.)—In less than 20 minutes fire swept through a block of buildings in Halsey street, Freeman’s Bay, this evening, and destroyed stock owned by Dunlop (New Zealand), Ltd., and the Maori Department. The fire brigade was oh the scene within minutes of receiving the alarm at about 7.10 p.m M but found the premises enveloped in. flames. It made; a good save' of the Maori Community centre, large stocks of timber in the yards of W. H. Whittaker and Company, Ltd., Harbour Boar 4 stores, and a neighbouring .house; all of which had been caught. Dunlop’s warehouse and the Maori Department store were burned to the ground. • • ' . Dunlop’s stock included, several thousand car and cycle tyres. No definite figures of the losses were' available this evening, but it was estimated that, including the replacement value of the : buildings, the total loss would approach £75,000- .... While firemen were fighting the Halsey street fire, another call was received to the premises of Mercer’s Household Linens in Karangahape road, where a small amount of stock was burned. Thia ffre was; easily put out. , The - alarm at Halsey street was given by a young man who was cressing Victoria Park. He saw a glow inside the building, which was one of a number built during the war for the American forces. A singlestorey building, it was made of timber and cement board. ■ Three engines from the central station and one each from Western Districts and Parnell answered the call and ethers from Mount Albert and Remuera were summoned later. By this time the flames were leaping 40ft to 50ft in the air and huge billows of black smoke were being carried high on a steady breeze. Continual' explosions came from the building. The cement board burst and scattered over a wide area. Showers of burning embers were carried along Fanshawe street by the breeze. House Catches Fire Mr and Mrs B._ M. Steadman, an elderly couple living in the wooden house’ in Dock street that caught fire and was slightly damaged, .were playing cards with a visitor when they heard a crackling. Mrs Steadman said she thought it must be Guy Fawke’s Day until she remembered the date. As she crossed to the window to look out the roof of the warehouses immediately beneath was suddenly swept with flame, which reached the house. The heat forced the Steadmans and their friend to leave the house as a fireman arrived. They took only some clothing with-them. Other residents of Dock street, although their houses were not as seriously endangered, also went into the street with some of. their belongings.