HOUSE DESTROYED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 157, 4 June 1929, Page 6

HOUSE DESTROYED.

EARLY MORNING OUTBREAK

OCCUPANTS’ QUICK EXIT

Less than' half an hour after the outbreak of fire had been discovered in the house of Mr E. Bruce, 484 Boundary Road East, at an early hour this morning, the dwelling was a smouldering ruin, the whole of its valuable contents having been devoured in fierce flames. The occupants had no time to lose in making their exit by the front door after snatching up their garments. . Noticing a luminous glow in the direction ol the hospital, from which the property concerned was about threequarters of a mile distant, a pedestrian in Victoria Street summoned the brigade at 1.45 a.m. and it had no difficulty in determining the exact locality of the outbreak, owing to the spectacular nature of the blaze.

Unfortunately, the services of the brigade were severely handicapped by the distance of the hose to the nearest main, and about 1400 feet of hose had to be run out from llata Street, where the pump was operating, but when sufficient water was made available, the fire had practically demolished the dwelling. However, the brigade succeeded in saving the large garage situated at the rear of the premises, and which was in imminent danger of being destroyed. The cause of the outbreak is unknown.

The crackling of flames awoke Mrs Bruce, who Housed the family, which included two children. Seizing their clothes they made their escape as quickly as possible, and although Mr Bruce attempted to re-enter the dwelling to secure some valuable articles, including an oil painting to which great sentimental value was attached, he was driven back by the flames, which rapidly consumed the building. The dog was released after an effort entailing some risk. Realising that the garage would be involved in the conflagration if the fire was mot checked in time, Mr Bruce drove a new car down the drive past the burning building, the absence of a fanning wind fortunately keeping the flames out of reach. The owner suffered heavy loss, although it is understood that the dwelling is covered .by insurance to the extent of £I3OO, and the contents for £4OO.

A false alarm call was received by the Fire Brigade at 12.53 a.m. before the second call was answered. As false alarms have become very frequent recently it has been decided to offer a reward of £5 to anyone supplying information that will lead to the conviction of persons x’esponsible for false alarms.