OPOTIKI FIRE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 6 December 1946, Page 6

OPOTIKI FIRE

HOSPITAL RAZED ' PATIENTS RESCUED FITTINGS ALL SAVED (P.A.) OS’QTIKI. Dec. 5. The main buildings oi the Opotiki Public Hospital were completely destroyed by fire in the early hours of this morning. The buildings were situated on Hospital Hill, about two miles from Opotki, and although a water main was recently lnid near the hospital, there was no hydrant for fire-fighting purposes. The fire broke out in detached domestic quarters and for half an hour the Opotiki Volunteer Fire Brigade held the fire in check, when the rear of the main building caught fire, using hand ppmps and buckets passed from hand to hand. When it was seen that the main building was likely to catch fire, all Ihe patients were immediately taken outside and a large number of people assisted the staff in clearing the building, including the main nurses’ building, of practically everything. The < ray plant was dismantled and safely removed. The fire was the most spectacular seen in Oootiki for many years. The average number of patients in the hospital is about 35. As scon as possible all the patients were brought into Opotiki, where St. Mary's hall was turned into an emergency hospital. Lorries worked through the early hours bringing beds and other equipment into the borough as rain threatened, everything being stored before heavy rain fell after daybreak.

The - insurances, which arc held in the State Department total approximately £7OOO. Plans were prepared some time ago for a new 60-bed hospital and nurses’ home on a nearpy site. The new maternity home, which was ready to be occupied on Saturday, will now be used as an emergency hospital. The isolatic n ward, which was some distance away, was never in any danger.