FIRE AT LYTTELTON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 23, 26 December 1942, Page 4

FIRE AT LYTTELTON

BIG AREA DEMOLISHED

SEVERE LOSSES

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 25. The biggest fire in Lyttelton since the historic one of 1872 occurred last night and lasted at its worst for about five hours. With a 50-60 miles an hour southwest gale behind it, the fire was terrifying and the whole central portion of the town was in grave danger for several hours. The buildings destroyed were a large grain and wool store in Norwich Quay, owned by the Railway Department and leased to A. Klunu and Co; the Lyttelton Hotel in Norwich Quay, owned by Ballin Brothers and occupied by Mr Duncan McDonald; a shop and dwelling in Canterbury Street, owned and occupied by Mr H. irendennick, mercer; a small shop and dwelling in Canterbury Street, owned by Mi A. D. Hamilton; a large shop and dwelling in Canterbury Street, owned by Air Hamilton. . , The full fire-fighting equipment ot the port, ashore and afloat, was brought into action, and the turningpoint was reached only after the arrival of a score of trailer pumps with men from Christchurch and other districts as the result of an urgent appeal by the Mayor of Lyttelton. E.P.S. personnel were soon at their posts and many worked throughout the night and to-day. 500,000 AVHEAT SACKS LOST.

Ilhind’s store was a semi-two-storey building of brick with ail iron rool and concrete ground floor. The Lyttelton Hotel was a wooden structure built about 60 years ago, and the shops in Canterbury Street, built of wood and corrugated iron, were very old. About 600,000 new wheat sacks were in the store, most of them having been purchased by the Wheat Committee before the war to ensure an adequate reserve in the country. It was not intended that they should be released for the coming wheat season, said the Dominion AA’heat Controller (Mr 11. McPherson). Valuable shipping space would have to be used in bringing replacements from India. The committee also has stored at Lyttelton and Timaru about 600,000 second-hand sacks. The fire broke out in Rhind’s store and. was first noticed about 9,10 p.m. With a big supply of sea water and the rear oi the store was attacked from the windward side. On the leeward side in Norwich Quay fire-lighters were having a tough time with driving flames and dense smoke. Realising that the fire was a serious one, the harbourmaster (Captain Plowman) ordered out the tug Lyttelton 11, and her powerful pumps were used lrom No. 3. breastwork. By this time buildings in Norwich Quay, Canterbury Street and London Street were being threatened by showers of sparks. Embers driven by the gale, flaming pieces of wood and other material were being carried right over the town past the highest houses on to the slopes of Mount Pleasant itself. The fronts of the buildings in Norwich Quay were being ignited and scores of small fires were dealt with by shopkeepers and householders using stirrup-pumps and garden hoses. At this stage the Mayor (Air Sutton) asked the Christchurch Fire Brigade for assistance. The difficulties of the authorities were made worse by the failure ol all telephones due to a cable in Norwich Quay being destroyed and by the complete failure of electic power. From soon after the start of the fire, all night and all to-day members of three St. John Ambulance divisions in Lytclton were on duty and treated over 100 cases. Most of these woro firemen with eye troubles caused by smoke and cinders, but there wore cases also of burns and shock. Some ambulance men. assisted in evacuating the occupants of threatened buildings. In several instances brick walls alone saved buildings. The fire which destroyed the Lyttelton Hotel was stopped by a brick wall.. Otherwise it would undoubtedly _ have taken the Saxon Hotel and adjoining wooden buildings in Canterbury Street. A large two-storeyed wooden shop, protected on both sides by brick walls, was by-passed by the fire, which destroyed three unprotected shops further up the street. Platcglass and other windows in many” buildings wore broken by the heat. The front of the Mitre Hotel was damaged considerably. Parties of soldiers of the Fortress, Command were sent to Lyttelton to I give assistance. They included demolition squads, signallers, guards, and two ambulance trucks with personnel. Army trucks arrived at the Christchurch railway station, where many soldiers and naval men were marooned because of a stoppage of trains, and called for volunteers to assist at Lyttelton. The trucks were quickly filled and on the way to the port. To-day soldiers guarded the area affected by the fire and demolition squads used explosives to fell dangerous walls.