Fire Ravages Premises Of Westland Auction Co.

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1947, Page 4

Fire Ravages Premises Of Westland Auction Co.

Firemen Combat Blaze At Great Personal Risk

Fire broke out in the premises of the Westiand Auction Company Mackay Street, early this morning, and by the time it was discovered at a quarter to one, had gained a good hold. The Greymouth Fire Brigade was immediately summoned and the fire, was first attacked from the alleyway which separates the auction company’s building from that of the “Grey River Argus.” The flames had already begun to creep across .to the top storey of the Argus building, and had completely enveloped the lean-to roo [ in 9 wh ' c " connected the two buildings. The windows of the shop had clouded over as the premises filled with smoke, and flames swept out of the windows on the southern side of the building at the rear, threatening to destroy the roofing in that sector.

The High Street engine then arrived on the scene and a second lead was run out to the southern side of the building, and a new attack on the flames concerted in that area. By 1.15 a.m. most of the flames had been extinguished and except at the extreme rear of the premises, flames were no longer visible. The Fire Brigade had an awkward problem in the alleyway at the outset from dense but the concrete wall of the burning building served to prevent the lire spreading across the alley. The ‘Argus” building was not greatly damaged, and fortunately the arrival of water prevented the adjacent printing machine from being damaged. FUMES AND SMOKE Firemen attempted to gain entrance to the smoke-filled premises by way of the front doors, making slow progress on hands and knees with one of the hose leads. The fumes and smoke, however, were so stifling that the men were forced back before they had covered three or four yards. It was seen, however, that the iron walls on the southern side of the building were red hot and glowing through the fumes. The firemen continued to concentrate their efforts through the main entrance to the showroom, and thence to the storeroom at the rear. Though handicapped to a large extent by the darkness, the men managed to fight their way through to the rear with the aid of the beam light on the front of the main station engine. Concerted efforts were still being made upon the storeroom from the southern side, but some flames continued to lick out over the eaves of the building. OUTBREAK NOTICED The outbreak was first noticed by a stone-hand of the “Argus” staff Mr. J. Gardner, who while working near the southern wall of the “Argus” noticed smoke pouring through the roof above him. He immediately gave the alarm, and members of

the “Argus” staff, discovered on an inspection of the “Argus,’ that the outbreak appeared to be in the adjoining building. The Greymouth Brigade was immediately informed, and was on the scene within three minutes. A lead was run out from in front of the Town Hall to the alleyway, and, after several attempts by one of the firemen to gain entrance through the double doors at the end of the alleyway, by the use of an axe, the doors were forced open by a battering ram, and with flames and burning limber crashing about them, the men broke through into the inferno.

A crowd quickly gathered, and it was soon noticed that the greatest hold, of the flames appeared to be centred at the rear and on the southern side of the storeroom. Visibility through the display, windows at the front of the building was impossible because of smoke, and the glass had become heated and cracked in several places with the intensity of the heat inside the showroom.

Accentuated somewhat by the murky and drizzly night, the glow of the already consumed storeroom lit up the night sky, and the vicious playing of the hoses swept through the entire building.

People crowded both sides of Mackay Street in all manner of night attire, and many cars arrived at the scene of the conflagration. The fire was completely under control at 1.50 and while a great part of the furniture and stocks was completely destroyed, the spontaneity of the Greymouth Brigade’s action in arriving at the scene was responsible for an excellent “save.” Mr. F. Sadler, manager of the Westland Auction Co., said it was impossible to assess the actual cost, of damage but this would be great. More than half of new stocks which were to have been offered on behalf of clients, this including valuable leather goods, had perished, as also had existing stocks which had been stored there for some time. The cause of the outbreak is not yet known, but it is considered that it began in the storeroom.