FIRE AT HOSPITAL

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 190, 12 August 1920, Page 4

FIRE AT HOSPITAL

LAUNDRY AND ENGINE-ROOM

GUTTED

At about five o'clock this morning, W. It. Haase, the night-watchman at the Wairau Hospital, discovered a fire in the roof of the engine-room. He immediately gave the alarm, and the fire station in town was communicated with, and the central fire alarm was sounded. No conveyance being available in town to take the engine and brigadesmen to the scene of the conflagration, the Hospital motor-lorry was sent down to haul the Fire Queen to tho hospital. The lorry, however, being only a one-ton truck, was unable to draw the engine and 14 men all the way, and the firemen had to drag the engine some distance.

At the hospital,-'meanwhile, no firefighting apparatus being installed, and no hose being available to connect with the wells, which have an ample supply, the staff concentrated upon the object of saving all the movable objects in the laundry and engine-rooms. The fire, unchecked, made short work of everything combustible, and when an effective stream of water was ready, the fire had done its worst, though one end of the building escaped with slight damage.

Luckily there was no wind, or the main institution might have becomo ignited, with disastrous consequences. As it was, however, the laundry and engine-room were completely gutted. The origin of the fire is not known. The' insurance, which is in the Royal Exchange Office, amounts to £4500, about half the cost of the building, which was the newest part of the establishment, and wais of a modern description. \ This morning; the effects of the fire were very apparent. The brick walls were 'standing almost intact but for ono wall, which was a little cracked; but the machinery, including the washing machines, and all the electric lighting plant, were a total loss. A small company of engineers a»nd workers, hastily recruited, under the direction of Mr P. J. Galliers, the hospital engineer, were working at high tension overhauling the machinery and repairing all that could be again used. A dynamo and engine have been lent by Messrs Wintringham a,nd Mitchell for temporary use, as the hospital is without means for lighting, the original plant being destroyed.

The, engineer, who said that it was impossible to estimate the damage for some time, hopes to have the heatino; and the woter system available for use to-night, and the tem-porary-lighting system in working order to-morrow.