UNDER CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20638, 19 August 1941, Page 6

UNDER CONTROL

AUCKLAND FIRE RAPID SPREAD FLAMES FOLLOW BLAST TRAPPED GIRLS’ COOLNESS (Pei 1 Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this clay. The fire in the three-storey warehouse block of John Burns, Limited, was fully under control by 10.30 a.m. to-day, but the firemen worked around the building until after midday. There are about 175 members on the staff of John Burns, Limited, which firm dates from 1882. All the staff members, excepting about 40 typists and others, had started work when the alarm was given. Those on the ground floor were startled by a blinding flash and an explosion, which seemed to originate from the electrical switchboard on the ground floor near the passenger lift. With amazing rapidity the flames shot up the lift well to the second and top floors, where much highly-inflammable material was stored, including paints and varnishes, and the employees on the top floors found themselves trapped. In the meanwhile the caretaker broke the automatic alarm with a broom handle, bringing the fire engines to the scene. Ambulances also arrived promptly. People proceeding to work assembled in thousands and saw reinforcements of police, auxiliary fire police, and emergency precautions scheme workers go into action. Hoses were operated from streets over a wide area. Rescue Work Among the earliest rescuers were six members of the stall' of the Auckland Star with extension ladders, but to reach the ladders trapped employees on the first floor had to crawl along the parapets. Admiration was expressed for the coolness of the first six girls who made their escape on these ladders, and they were followed by 14 men. One man rescued by a telescopic ladder was Mr. Robert McWhirter, aged 30, a traveller, • who suffered acute bronchial distress,, but whose condition was favourable. Two others admitted to hospital were Mr. Francis Harold Baker, chief cashier, who suffered concussion and a probable fracture of the base of the skull and was unconscious, his condition being serious, and Miss Stella Young, who had been burned on the face and hands and whose condition was fair. The following were treated at the casualty ward: Mr. Lewis Goldwater, cuts on the left hand; Mr. Thomas Farrow Hirst, contusions on the left elbow and shock; Mr. David Michael Claret, burns on the right hand; Mr. Arthur Cooper, small scalp wound. The insurances, held by the Queensland Company, total approximately £1,200,000 on the stocks and £50,000 on the buildings, but it is estimated that these are much below the actual values.