LONDON FIRE RESCUES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 December 1924, Page 13

LONDON FIRE RESCUES.

GIRLS’ ESCAPE CUT OFF. LONDON, Nov. (j. Exciting scenes were witnessed at a serious tire which broke out last Thursday- arternoon at 76-78 YVardour Street, \V., on premises occupied by the Topical Film Company, Ltd. ' hollowing an explosion the flames spread rapidly, with the result that me escape ot women and girl employees was cut off. They hung out of tlie windowls shouting that the stairs were on'-fire and appealing for help. The confusion was increased by tlie fact that a motor-car standing outside the building was burning fiercely. A number of the girls jumped iiito the street, without serious mishap, except that one injured her'foot, a,district call was circulated and some 2j lire engines soon arrived. The firemen rescued-the'girls'who were still in the building.

The file, which did notaffect the premises of the Ideal Films, Ltd., below those of the Topical Film Company, originated in a developing room, and is believed to hay© been caused by an explosion in a tank containing celluloid. The''■motor-car outside the building was covered by a rain of sparks and burst into flames, and showers of broken glass fell from the building on people below. The premises opposite in the narrow street, which is largely tenanted ir. film renting firms, were scorched, anc owing to the presence of stocks of highly inflammable material, the employee* were advised by the Fire Brigade authorities to prepare to leave.

The windows of the head offices of Messrs Pathe Freres were all smashed, one of this firm’s representatives stated that the danger in their case' was compaiatively small, since the films are ah packed in fireproof and airtight tins in the basement of the building, and extraordinary heat would be needed to cause them to ignite. The whole of the burning building. With the exception of the ground floor, was destroyed, and damage amounting to some of pounds was done. Well over 109 firemen, under the Chief Officer, were at work, and LieutenantColonel Fox personally superintended the work of the London Salvage Corps, which succeeded in saving a great deal of property.

The firemen were greatly hampered in their work.by the narrowness of the street, which at its widest, is scarcely more than four yards in width. Owing to the cejluloid fumes the firemen used their gas masks and special breathing apparatus when examining the building after the fire. Even when the flames had been subdued the fumes rendered several people in the street below unconscious; these were given first aid by the police. Two girls were treated at the Charing Cross Hospital for slight injuries and shock, resulting from jumping from a window, but they were not detained. One girl was treated for burns and shock at the Middlesex Hospital and was allowed to go homeland Julia

Ginsberg was admitted to the same hospital with an injured foot. Noteworthy presence of mind was shown by Mr. William Sereatfield, a middle-aged motor-driver, employed by Messrs Pathe Freres. ;. His motor-van wa s standing outside his employers’. 1 offices when the explosion occur red: Almost simultaneously a car standing near burst into flames and there' was a shower of burning material arifl broken glass. _ Mr. Streatfield succeeded in: backing his .vehicle, which was loaded with inflammable material,, out of the danger-zone, though a mass of flaming celluloid fell Hear him.