FIRE IN MAIN STREET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 54, 3 February 1937, Page 8

FIRE IN MAIN STREET

BRIGADE’S GOOD SAVE. BATTLE WITH SMOKE. Hampered by thick black smoke which rose in clouds from the upper windows, members of the Palmerston North Fire Brigade had a difficult task for nearly halt an hour in suppressing an outbreak of fire which occurred shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday in a wooden two-storey building almost adjoining the IForestcrs’ Hull in Maui Street. Though practically enveloped at times in black smoke they kept tlieir position on the verandah root to play the hose, for which there nos fortunately a good water pressure, into the interior, until they had the outbreak under control. The fire started in an upstairs back room and spread into the roof, which was a mass of flames from end to end when the brigade arrived. The building is owned by tlie S. Abrahams estate, and was tenanted by Messrs F. Clark and family and G. A. Lockwood and family. The outbreak was discovered by Josephine Clark, who saw smoke issuing from a window. While one lead was played on the flames through a front window, another was directed up the stairs, and a third introduced from the rear of the building. Occurring just when workers were going home from the city, the fire soon attracted a crowd of well over a thousand spectators, who watched from the railway line and other vantage points the battle of the brigntlesmen to subdue the flames. There was quite a traffic jam created on the southern side of Main Street, between Victoria Avenue and Princess Street, as cars full of onlookers accumulated. Showing the efficiency which has enabled it to make several smart saves lately, the brigade averted the risk of a large conflagration developing, the blazing building being sandwiched between two other wooden structures. Windsor Flats, a large wooden building of two storeys on the city side, was for a period in danger, and the occupants made hurried preparations to have their belongings, even to the extent of carrying out bedding. However, a brick wall helped to keep the flames from sweeping over on to Windsor Flats. The Foresters’ Hall was not threatened to the same extent, though there is no brick wall on that side.

The upper part of the building was gutted. Details of the insurances held on the building are not yet available, but the tenants lost heavily, having no insurance cover on tlieir furniture and effects. The fire lias been a disastrous one for them.

APPEAL FOR FAMILIES. (To the Editor.) Sir, —May I trespass on your space to make an urgent appeal in connection with the unfortunate fire in Main Street last evening, whereby two families lost everything. I want to appeal to our citizens for assistance on behalf of these two families. There are five young children in one family whose ages range from a baby of four months old to a girl six years old. The other family comprises three children—two boys 15 and 12, and a girl of 8 years. Donations of furniture, clothing, ■or cash will be most gratefully accepted. Both families lost everything and had no insurance whatsoever. They . now have only the clothes they were wearing at the time of the fire. I feel confident I can rely on the generous support of our citizens to this most worthy appeal. Donations of furniture or clothing can be left at the City Council Chambers, or a telephone communication to No. 7550 will ensure the goods being called for. Cash donations can be left at either of our newspaper offices.—Your faithfully A. E. MANSFORD, Mayor. FIRE DISTRESS FUND.

Mr and Mrs A. E. Mansford, £2 2s,