FIRE OUTBREAK

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1942, Page 1

FIRE OUTBREAK

In Royal Hotel CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE CAUSED. Fire broke out in the roof of the Royal Hotel in Mawhera Quay about three o’clock yesterday afternoon. The walls and ceilings and furniture of three bedrooms on the top floor, used by members of the stall, ana the rafters of the roof were burned. Considerable damage was also done on all floors by the water used in putting the fire out. The building, which is of brick and concrete, is of three storeys, the top storey being built in under a steeply-sloping roof. , „ , It is not known how the lire began, but it apparently originated in the roof outside the walls of the top storey rooms. Smoke was . first noticed issuing from the building by railwaymen, who gave the information to those in the hotel. Smoke had also been observed by the cook coming through into an adjoining room. The Central Fire brigade was summoned, and with the Cobden Fire Brigade, the Emergency Fire Squad, and other helpers, the outbreak was fought for about an hour and prevented from gaining a hold. , , . Two leads of hose were brought into the hotel, one through the main door in the adjoining lane and the other through the roof from the back. It was necessary for this purpose to remove some of the iron roofing. Although there was no blaze the lire obstinately smouldered in the sarking of the roof and the plasterboard walls. It was necessary to break through the partition between the bedroom where the fire began and the stairway to prevent it from reaching the north end of the hotel,. Large quantities ot water had to be used to prevent the outbreak spreading and this dripped down through the roof and stairway, soaking the walls and flooring. Water lay heavily on the top floor, ruining the carpets and other covering. Clothing and other property of the occupants were ruined. The Brigade, although hampered by the acrid fumes from the interior linings of the building, made an excellent save, preventing the outbreak from getting a serious hold at any time. The Brigade is now only fifteen strong, owing to call-up ot men. ■ The fire attracted a large crowd, and the overhead- railway bridge provided an excellent gallery from which to obtain a view. The building is owned by Westland Breweries, Ltd., and is leased by Mrs A. Lees, the licensee. Insurance on the building totals £5,000 and is held by the following offices: South British £lOOO, Queensland £2OOO, Standard £lOOO, Pheonix £lOOO. The contents me also insured with several offices. The former premises of the Royal Hotel, a wooden building, were completely destroyed by fire about 12 years ago, and replaced by the present building.