GREAT BLAZE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20638, 19 August 1941, Page 4

GREAT BLAZE

CITY WAREHOUSE ESCAPE OF STAFF THRILLING RESCUES THREE STOREY BLOCK (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. One of the fiercest fires in the history of Auckland developed about 8.15 o’clock this morning in the large warehouse of John Burns and Company, Limited, fronting Customs street and extending some distance along Commerce street and through to Fort street lane. -No sooner had the large staff taken up their usual positions throughout the three-storey building than men and women were seen emerging trom the windows of the second and third storeys and the roof on to the parapets, against a background of dense smoke, followed almost immediately by great volumes ot flame. While some of the staff climbed around the parapets on to adjoining buildings, others were rescued by jumping from the second storey windows into a tarpaulin which was held by firemen on the roof of the Customs street verandah. A middle-aged woman on the second storey hesitated a long time, but eventually jumped into the tarpaulin. Still earlier, ladders had been rushed from neighbouring* warehouses to rescue others from two sides of the building. Cheers greeted the rescue efforts, especially when a man on the top storey of Customs street was brought down a telescopic ladder by firemen. The crowd of several thousands cheered to an echo. Full Fire-Fighting Force Engaged The city fire engines which arrived first were joined from time to time by suburban engines until the lull fire-fighting force, including auxiliary firemen, were engaged in a tremendous battle against the fierce flames. The heat was so great that about 9.15 Nathan’s Buildings and the building of Bond and Bond, opposite, in Commerce street, caught alight, some of the firemen having to divert their efforts until these outbreaks were subdued, without causing much damage. Meanwhile, the main battle continued, the police moving the crowds further and further back from the blazing building, m which a crackle of what sounded like small arms ammunition was continually heard, and at 9.45 several loud explosions rocked the tottering building, causing the firemen temporarily to recede. At 10.15 the flames were still leaping high above the south-west corner of the building, and several leads of hose were operating in Customs street and Fort street. An electric clock in the Customs street frontage stopped at 8.30 a.m. Trapped On Top Floor The most thrilling rescue, in the view of thousands of onlookers, was that of a man brought to safety last of all. Trapped on the top floor of the building, he first appeared at a window on the Customs street frontage. and it was obvious the flames gave him no chance of reaching the western side of the block from which some members of the staff had been rescued. The heat drove him on to the window sill and an unsuccessful attempt was made to reach him with a ladder from the verandah roof. By the time the brigadesmcn raised the telescopic ladder, the man was frequently hidden from view by the dense smoke. The ladder failed by several feet to reach the window and preparations were made on the verandah roof for him to make a long leap into the tarpaulin. For some minutes, it appeared impossible that the man could be got down the ladder, and the spectators expected him to collapsfrom the smoke and heat at any time. Eventually, a second fireman climbed and joined his companion who was endeavouring to bring the man to safety. Acting under directions from the fireman, the man worked his way from the sill down the, face of the building to the top ot the ladder where he was supported by the brigadesmen. As his feet reached the top rung and the onlookers realised that a tragedy had been averted, they burst into loud cheers. The man was helped down the ladder and, on reaching the verandah of the roof, was in a state of collapse and it was some time before he reached the street. Then, with several others, he was taken away by the ambulance.