OMOTO BLAZE

Grey River Argus, 25 January 1943, Page 4

OMOTO BLAZE

HOUSE DESTROYED With Entire Contents Throwing a vivid glow into the sky which was visible tor a' considerable distance, a lire which broke out, as far as is known, soon after ten o clock last night, completely destroyed the home of Mr. Steve Gugum, Omoto Road. The house was a six-roomed one, and none of the contents were saved. , Mr. Gugum had spent the evening working in the kitchen. Mrs. G'igum and their two children were at the pictures in Greymouth, and at about 9.45 or 9.50 Mr. Gugum left in his car to bring them home, there was a small fire burning in the stove at the time. Mr. Gugum had a short wait in town. At the theatre he was fold by Mrs. Gugum that their house was on fine. . . , . In the meantime the lire had been reported to Mr. D. R. Gibbens, who lives nearby, by two young men named Kent and Cameron. Mr. Gibbens immediately rang the police, and the theatre where Mrs. Gugum was spending the evening, where she was summoned by a notice on cne screen. A party of men went to the house and found 'the rear portion ablaze. An entrance was forced at the front of the house, but the heavy smoke made it impossible for them to approach the lire. From Greymouth, no doubt because of the low cloud, the reflection above the hills was vivid and extensive, and many people made their way out to the fire. The house, a fairly old wooden one, burned tiercejly, lighting up the bush and the hill behind. Sparks ascended to a considerable height, and occasionally longer particles were thrown up to break in the air. The house wa's valued at between £6OO and £7OO. The amount of the insurance and the office was not fu-« eertainable last night, but 'the amount was believed to be only about £3OO or £4OO. It was undeistood that in addition to the other contents, a sum of money in t e house was lost. A coupie ot bicycles which were beneath th house were saved.