THREE HOUSES DESTROYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18888, 10 December 1924, Page 8

THREE HOUSES DESTROYED

SERIOUS FIRE IN PONSONBY

DELAY IN CALLING BRIGADE.

BOARDING HOUSE OUTBREAK.

ADJOINING HOMES BURNED.

Three houses in Waitemata Street on the Ponsonby waterfront were, with their contents, destroyed by fire early this morning. Th« fire apparently originated in the kitchen of ail apartment house conducted by Mrs. Teddy. The flames spread with amazing rapidity throughout the three-storeyed building, and the occupants were forced to make their escape in the greatest haste without attempting to save any of the contents.

Two single-storeyed houses, adjoining Mrs. Teddy's residence on either side, were enveloped in the fire. That on the corner of the street, owned and occupied by Mr. Crowe, was destroyed with all its contents. On the other side was a new house, only recently finished but not. occupied. It also was practically destroyed.

So enormous was the heat _from the blazing buildings that at the height of the fire a residence on the other side of the street appeared to be in serious danger. Volunteers assisted the owner to remove some of the furniture but it was afterwards returned when the danger appeared to have been averted, the brigade having kept the walls cool bv drenching them with water.

The fire broke out at about 1.15 a.m., but it was a considerable time before the brigade received the alarm. One of the boarders in the apartment house actually summoned the brigade. He ran to the Ponsonby firebell at the Three Lamps. By this time the fire had a firm hold, and it was impossible for the brigade to control it.

Seen from vantage points in the city the fire present-ed a brilliant spectacle, the western sky being brightly, illuminated for a long time.