SPECTACULAR FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10729, 29 October 1928, Page 2

SPECTACULAR FIRE.

THRILLING EPISODES AT SYDNEY BLAZE-

AVALANCHE OF HOT BRICKS.

A fire at Addington, Sydney, recently, which destroyed several small shops and two factories, and resulted in the injury of two firemen _ and two other men, provided thrilling episodes for the hundreds of people attracted to the spot. Hazy, through a veil of smoke, the firemen. could be seen fighting the flames while the Walls and the roof collapsed,- and while fusing electric wires writhing on the ground further’ endangered their lives. A little bov was saved from a shower of white-hot bricks, and four firemen were seen to fall off a. verandah roof beneath a cascade of bricks from the tottering front wall of the premises. The damage is estimated at over £IO,OOO. Workmen were engaged at their various tasks in Mr. Miles’ upholstery factory when somebody railed the ory of “Fire!” nndJMcssrs R. .T. Mile, son of the proprietor, and W. Stewart, and other employees ran to the rear of the premises to. find a large heap of fibre blazing fiercely. While one telephoned to the fire brigade. the others attempted to subdue the outbreak. They sowly retreated before the flames, which, fanned by a strong wind, swept through die entire factory, and then commenced to spread to the whole of tlie building. Shopkeepers hurriedly left their oremiiscs, and, so rapidly did the flames enfold the building that one shopkeeper at least, Mr. Kessel, was unable to save a single thing ot •value. When the fire brigades Arrived the building was completely .surrounded by flames, which threatened to leap tlie narrow .street to the long row of old houses opposite. Then commenced a desperate fight, nd all the firemen were in danger at some time or other. First a portion of the roof at the rear crashed i.o the ground, then, with a roar that sent sightseers crowding away from tho vicinity, the remainder of the roof collapsed. A minute or so later a wall broke away, ahd not long afterwards the opposite wall sliudderea and fell. The most thriving spectacle was witnessed in tho front of the buUdntr, where four firemen, including Station-Officer Brown and Fireman Conway, were fighting the flames for a precarious foothokl on a galvanised iron verandah roof. The wall towerin" above then trembled as tho fierce gtists fo flame shot upward. Then ttie wall and verandah v°°f collapsed simultaneously. There was a startled cry from the crowd, and tho four firemen fei tithe ground m the midst of a shower ot hundreds of hot bricks. Although bricks continued to fall, other firemen ran to the aid of their comrades. Coincident--with this, and as the wall fell outward and for a second seemed poised in mid air, a little clul ran on to the road, but was rescued by a fireman, who literally throw the child from beneath the falling debris. It was a courageous and spectacular incident.