TRAPPED BY FLAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18814, 15 September 1924, Page 8

TRAPPED BY FLAMES.

FAMILY'S CLOSE CALL.

LEAP FROM BLAZING HOUSE.

ESCAPE IN NIGHT ATTIRE.

The fire which occurred in a two-storeyed house in Ferry Road, Christchurch, early last Thursday morning, was attended by sensational incidents. The fire occurred on the premises of Mr. A. E. W. Stevens, bootmaker. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, who were sleeping on the upper floor, were aroused by the smell of smoke. Mr. Stevens rushed out on to the landing. He saw that the fire wa3 located in the storeroom next door to the room where he and his wife were sleeping. He opened the door of the storeroom, and there was a rush of flames and smoke across the passage. As the two children were ill, they were sleeping in the same room as their parents. Mrs. Stevens caught up one of the children and managed to get down the stairs in spite of the flames and smoke. When Mr. Stevens tried to get down with the other child, the «fire drove him back. He returned to the bedroom and jumped through the window on to the corrugated iron roof of the verandah. As soon as Mrs. Stevens got downstairs, she rang up the fire brigade, which quickly extinguished the fire. The rooms on the first floor were all damaged by the fire. All the stock in the storeroom was destroyed and the furniture in the living rooms was considerably damaged by smoke, heat and water. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens also lost a good i deal of clothing and other personal effects. They had no time to dress, having to get out of their bedroom as quickly as possible.