WEEK-END FIRES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 March 1930, Page 2

WEEK-END FIRES

DWELLING-HOUSE TOTALLY DESTROYED TWO OTHER CALLS Over the weekend the Nelson Volunteer Fire Brigade received three calls. On Saturday afternoon they were summoned to a Mount street scrub fire, early on Sunday morning to a burning house, and on Sunday evening to a minor fire in Waimea road.

At 2.20 o'clock on Sunday morning a six-roomed residence on the corner of Scotland #nd Bronte streets, owned and occupied by Mr H. K. Oxnam, was totally destroyed by fire. The outbreak occurred in the back part of the house, the kitchen and bathroom being burning when the brigade arrived. Air J. Anstice, a neighbour, gave the alarm and the brigade was on the scene in 2£ ,minutes. Captain A. .Bennett, who lives close by. reached the scene almost simultaneously with the engine. He states that the fire at that time was confined to the kitchen and the bathroom, and with a lead from the 3-inch main in Seymour Avenue, the outbreak could have been controlled. Unfortunately, however, while the captain of the Brigade was arranging for an emergency lead to be brought off the larger main in Brook street, some early arrivals at the fire, with the best of intentions, broke open the front door of the house with a view to salvaging the contents. This caused a big draught to be set up and caused the flames;to spread very rapidly. Had it riot been for this Captain Bennett is confident that the fire could have been confined to the two rooms. Practically all the contents of the house were destroyed.

At the time of' the fire there' was no one at home, tho Oxnams being in the country. It was a wooden house which had been built only four years. Fortunately the wind was from the east, which carried the flames acrossthe street otherwise serious damage might have been done to neighbouring houses. As it was the residence of Mr A. F. Waters, next door to Oxnam's, at a distance of about 30 feet, was badly scorched on one wall. The flames would have licked the house if they had been blown in that direction. Mr Oxnam is out of town, and the insurances are not yet available.

GORSE FIRE On Saturday afternoon a gorse fire on the western side of Mount street assumed considerable proportion and threatened Mr G. L. Chittenden's house. . The brigade was called and stood by to prevent damage to property. BUENLNG MOTOR CYCLE Last evening at 7.45 o'clock the Brigade turned out for the third time, the call being from Waimea road, where a motor cycle belonging to F. Henderson was on fire. Henderson covered the, cycle with sacks and when the Brigade arrived a fire extinguisher was used to put out the flame. The members of the Brigade wish to express their thanks to the residents in the neighbourhood who supplied refreshments.