THE RECENT FIRE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 20 June 1912, Page 7

THE RECENT FIRE

__^ _ HAWERA FIRE BOARD ASK FOR ,AN ENQUIRY. Superintendent Keen reported to the Hawera Fire Board • this morning as follows: ''I am sorry to have to report the very serious fire Which we had on the morning of April 28. We got the call at a few minute;* after 5 a.m., with a perfect gale blowing. I at once got a lead on to the tire from Union street into the billiard room. I then went round to the back portion of the hotol, which I found was a seething mass of flames, both usptairs and down. I called the lead oft the billiard room and put it into the back portion- then I went and got a lead from High street opposite McGruer, Bone and Go's shop, and put it into the front. The pressure at this time was very bad indeed. I asked the borough foreman to cut off the water from Princes street south and High street east. When he came back I got him to cut off High street from Victoria street. During the progress of the fire I asked several of the firemen if the deputy was present, and they said he was at the back.' I kept to the front and so I did not worry. When told he was present I asked Foreman Champion if he had turned off the pump and he said he had arranged with the deputy to turn off the pump till he had mastered the bicycle. (This is so.) During all this time the pump was going, which meant I was losing at least lOlbs of pressure. I sent for the deputy at 6.30, when I found he was not present after the fire Avas practically over; but for the fact of being assured of the deputy being present by at least three men I should have sent out and had the pump stopped. I found out that Mr Grcig's telephone boll did rot ring owing to a fault in the wire, which has since been attended to. By a quarter to six McGruer, Bone and Co's shop was ablaze from end to end, showing how rapidly the fire burned. The flamesi from the hotel leaped across the street right into the windows, and we had no chance to stop it. I thought for a good while I could have kept the fire to the hotel so did not try to salvage Bone's. Then the wind got up with greater fury and the whole place was ablaze before I realised it. The shops across the street being alight at the same time I had a very hard time of it and I think we did well to save what we did with the pressure we had. At no time had we more than three leads 'on, and each lead had a hydrant to itself. After the Avater was confined we did-not have more than 601bs pressure, if we had that. I was on duty at the fire from 5.10 a.m. till noon. Every man worked well, but unless anyone was present at the fire they could not realise what the brigade had to contend with." The Board went into committee to consider this portion of the Superintendent's report and the management of the fire generally. Upon resuming into open meeting, Mr Corkill, for Mr Paton, moved the following resolution: — "That Inspector Hugo be requested to visit Hawera and report concerning the recent fire at "the Central Hotel and McGruer, Bone and Co.'si (1) As to the working of the Brigade. (2) Could the water pressure have been improved at the fire in question. (3) Whether he can suggest any means by which a better pressure can be obtained from the mains at present in use." Mr W. Baker seconded the motion, which was carried. .At this stage the Superintendent was called in. The Chairman: The Board has passed a resolution asking Mr Hugo to hold an enquiry into the late fire. Tho Board is not satisfied with the management of the fire. Have you anything to say, Mr Keen, in addition to your report? The Superintendent: Oh, no! It is a matter for the Board. An enquiry would be. satisfactory to everybody. The Chairman: That is all we require you for.. The matter then dropped.