DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 175, 25 June 1926, Page 7

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

BLOCK AT WAIUKU SWEPT.

BUCKET BRIGADE AT WORK. THRILLS AND EXCITEMENT. [By Telegraph—Special to Standard.] AUCKLAND, June 24. There was great excitoment at Waiuku when a lire broke out to-night. Help was summoned from neighbouring premises, while a general alarm was given by ringing the church bell. A large crowd quickly assembled and a bucket brigade 'was organised. Within a few minutes the entire stock of buckets and iron baths from AlcEwen’s hardware store adjoining the hotel on the opposite side of the street was requisitioned, together with kerosene tins, etc. A water supply was obtained from an electrically driven pump inside the hotel yard, and soon a fairly steady stream was being poured on the flames. ' . v _ ' In the meanwhile another party with a priest, Rev. Father Taylor, in the vanguard, lustily, attacked the top portion of Alackgill’s premises in an endeavour to tsave the adjoining place. The heat drove them back, however, and the whole block was soon a roaring furnace. Attention was then directed to saving the hotel and McEwen’s shop from catching fire, as the heat was striking right across the road Blankets were secured and spread against the fronts of the buildings and kept saturated with water by the bucket brigade. •This was effective, except fhat two large plate-glass windows in McEwen’s shop were cracked right across. They were valued at about £3O, and were insured. A NARROW ESCAPE.

At this stage a young man named Bert James provided an additional thrill. He was engaged on the roof of AlcEwen’s shop verandah 1 in putting wet'-’ towels to the top of the facade when the roof, of iron, gave way and precipitated him on to the heads of the people below. One lady fainted. James was not hurt.

One telephone post with a cable box was burned, and telephone communication in the direction of Alanukau Heads was cut off. The local linesman quickly set about the erection of a detour line, and communication was restored within two hours.

The glaro of the fire was seen at places forimany miles round, including ‘Pukekolie and Drury. At nine o’clock the debris was still burning, and a large brick cooling room used in connection with a destroyed fish shop, and a brick chimney stood out as all that had withstood the flames. PREMISES DESTROYED.

The premises destroyed were as follow : Defence Offices, A. Alackgill’s motor workshop and. garage, J. F. Donnelly’s music studio, Rotet’s fish shop, W. Cook’s fish shop, W. AlcEwen’s office, and Williams Brothers’ electrical workshop and showroom. The three last-named premises comprised the top portion of the block, owned by Air McEwen, the remainder being owned by Air Mackgill. Williams Brothers’ stock and fittings and Donnelly’s piano and sundries were saved, but Alackgill’s plant and the contents of the other premises were destroyed. The fire started in Alackgill’s garage. A car was being cranked by Air Mackgill when it backfired and the near portion burst into flames, which spread quickly. An unsuccessful attempt made to push the car outside, but the ceiling caught fire. It is understood that the building was insured for £950. The loss is very extensive.