£100,000 DAMAGE IN AUCKLAND FIRE AT TWO STORES

Grey River Argus, 30 September 1949, Page 3

£100,000 DAMAGE IN AUCKLAND FIRE AT TWO STORES

P.A. AUCKLAND, Sept 29. In less than 20 minutes a I’aging sea of flames swept through a block of buildings in Halsey Street, Freemans Bay, tonight, and destroyed stock owned by Dunlop New Zealand Ltd and the Native Department. The fire brigade was on the scene within a coup's of minutes of receiving an alarm at about 7.10 pm, but found the premises completely enveloped in flames. It made a good save of a Maori Community Centre, large stocks of timber in W. H. Whittaker and Co LTD’S yard, Harbour Board stores and a neighbours house all of which had been caught by the flames. Dunlops warehouse and the Native Department store were burned to the ground. No definite figures of the losses involved in the fire were available tonight. However, it was estimated that, including the replacement value of the buildings the total loss would approach £lOO,OOO. While the firemen were fighting the Halsey Street outbreak, another cab was received to the premises of Mercers Household Linens, in Kai angnhape Road, where a small amount of stock was burned. This fire was easily extinguished. The alarm for the big fire was given by a young man who was crossing Victoria Park. He saw. a strong glow inside the building which was one of number erected during the war for the American forces. A single story structure, it was made of timber and cement board. Three engines from the Central Fire Headquaiters and one each from the Western districts and Parnell answered the call immediately, and others from Mount Aioert and Remueia were summoned later to give assistance. By this time the flames were leaping 40ft and 50 ft in the air. Huge billows of black smoke were beng carried high on a steady breeze from the south west. Continual explosions came from the interior of the building and the cement board burst and scattered over a wide area. Showers of burning embers raced along r anshawe Street before the breeze. The Maori Affairs Department used its bulk store for materials to be used in the construction of Maori housing and in development schemes in the North Island, Waikato and the King Country. Officers of the department, who were approached tonight, could not give any indication of the extent of the damage in the bulk store. The department had occupied the premises for about 18 months.

Mr and Mrs B. M. Steadman, an elderly couple living in a wooden house in Dock St. which caught flie and was slightly daamged, were playing cards with a visitor when they heard ominous cracklings. Mrs Steadman said she thought it must be Guy Fawkes’ Day, until she remembered the date. As she crossed to the window to look out, the root of the warehouse immediately beneath was suddenly swept with flame which reached the house. Intense heat forced the couple and their friend to leave the house as the firemen arrived but it was only with reiuuctance that Mi' Steadman abandoned his home. The couple took only some clothing with them, as they waited for their home to be saved. Other residents of Dock St. although their houses were not as seriously menaced, also took to the street with some of their personal belongings.