Two Acres Of Smouldering Ruin In Christchurch Fire

Northern Advocate, 19 November 1941, Page 6

Two Acres Of Smouldering Ruin In Christchurch Fire

[Per Press Association—Copyright] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. HALF A CITY BLOCK WAS RAZED TO THE GROUND ° EARLY THIS MORNING WHEN THE TIMBER YARDS AND MILL OF C. S. McCULLY, LTD., AT THE CORNER OF TUAM AND MONTREAL STREETS, CAUGHT FIRE. The outbreak was first noticed about 1.20 a.m. and the brigade was on the scene within a few minutes, but by then the fire had such a hold that there was no hope of doing anything beyond attempting to confine it to the timber yard. The occupants of six houses adjoining the yards moved hurriedly into the street in their night attire, taking a few personal belongings. One of them, a Mr. Port, had to be roused from his room by the police, who found him slightly cut by falling glass. Soon afterwards the outer brick wall of McCully’s premises fell on this cottage.

Fireman Injured i A fireman, Mr. Norman Phelan, was injured about 2.10 a.m. when the north wall of McCully’s premises fell out into the street. He is a married man with two children. He had to be taken from under the collapsed brick wall, and he was admitted to hospital. From the start for most of the spectators interest was not in the fate of the timber yard, which was . an unbroken mass cf flames, but in the houses, three in Montreal Street and three in St. Asaph Street. With their bedding and furniture stacked in the street the occupants of these houses stood in their night attire watching their homes, just beyond which the fire blazed fiercely. Feared For Husband Right against the high brick wall of McCully’s premises in Montreal Street was the house occupied by Mr. Port. Missing her husband when she was out in the street and when the house was already endangered by the wall, Mrs. Port told the police, and three constables went in and-’ found him cut about the face but preparing to leave.

Not long after they had all left the house it was almost demolished by the falling wall. After this it caught fire. By 1.35 a.m. the blaze was so great that it threw a glare of light on the Cathedral spire half a mile away. From the Montreal Street side of the timber yard the fire spread east and north. McCully’s offices were burning strongly at 1.40 by which time the whole of the area was ablaze. Spark From Boiler The nightwatchman, Mr. Halkett, reported that the fire started when a spark from the boiler, blown out by wind, fell on some skirting and, fanned by a sudden gust of wind, immediately caused a blaze. Mr. Halkett obtained a bucket of water, but within a few seconds, he said, flames were everywhere. When the brigade arrived the fire had to be attacked from many points at once to prevent it spreading. Six engines were brought out and leads of hose were taken to all points where it was possible to protect adjoining property. The heat was so great that it was difficult to approach anywhere near the main fires, but thefiremen penetrated deep into the premises wherever they could. The wooden outer walls of McCully’s office fell into the street about 2 a.m. Twenty minutes later the brick wall in Tuam Street, fell out, pinning fireman Phelan under its debris and slightly injuring another fireman on a knee. Two Acres Another alarm was raised about 2 o’clock when smoke and flames were seen coming from the back of W. A. McLaren and Co. Ltd., motor engineers, of 108 St. Asaph Street. Their premises, packed with motor .cars and trucks and with petrol pumps and oil drums close at hand, were immediately opposite the burning buildings. Fireman at once broke the lock on the door and in a short time the blaze was put out, leaving only a few smouldering sacks. When daylight came the whole of McCully Ltd’s area of nearly two acres was a smouldering ruin, with only the gaunt frames of giant handsaws standing. For hours after the main fire had been extinguished firemen played streams of water on the ruins, from which clouds of smoke and steam billowed upwards, enveloping the district.