BURST OF FLAME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22569, 24 February 1948, Page 6

BURST OF FLAME

SUDDEN_ FLASH LADDERS TOO SHORT RISK THOUGHT TOO GREAT (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. Fob. 24. “As I came down the alley I felt the line of hose being pulled back quickly, and as I reached the street frontage a flash-by took place and flames leaped at the back of Goodman’s building to Pratt's building,” said Third Officer J. T. Burrows. Mr G. G. G. Watson, for the Crown: In the six minutes or so they were there, could the lead have been directed efficiently on to anything in the alley? Witness: Yes. they could have opened up the entrance by playing the hose on the brick wall.” No Flame Seen Witness said he saw no flame in Congreve's building. A hose was then directed into Goodman’s building on the ground floor. The flame was at the rear. The flame was on the first floor of Pratt’s building making its way along Colombo street to Cashel street. No flame was then visible on the ground floor. Mr Watson: Was that your first realisation that you had a fire of the first magnitude on your hands? Witness: Yes. Burrows said he then ordered all possible leads to be put out, a brigade call to be put through, and a lead to be put into Cashel street. Mr Watson’ You have heard many witnesses say that the police drew the attention of firemen to the plight of the girls in the millinery workroom. Did anvone draw your attention? Witness: No. Too Short by 4ft. or sft. “Whnr was the first you saw or heard of the girls being trapped in the millinery workroom?—After the girls had jumped from the windows. I saw a ladder up to Goodman’s building was burning. It was fold that two girls had been up there and that they had tried to rescue them, but they had gone to a window flirt her down.” Witness said the length o f the Ajax ladder fijof't ) was too short to reach the girls by 4 or sft. Mr Watson: But if a fireman had stood up he could have reached the girls? Witness: It would have been precarious as he would have been on the top rung. ‘Tint the alternative was death to the people in the building and a chance should have been taken?—Yes.” Mr Watson then turned from Ihe girls trapped in Goodman's building to the two girls who had .lumped to safety from Pratt's building and asked: "If someone had the initiative to get a eatpenter’s ladder and put it on the veranda, was there any reason why spliced or Ajax ladders were nut used to reach the girls? Witness; No Could not the A.iax ladder or spliced ladder have been used for these girls from the ridge of the veranda?—lt would have taken 100 long to establish the ladders and reach the girls.