FIRE AT PAPATOETOE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20058, 22 September 1928, Page 14

FIRE AT PAPATOETOE.

MOTOR GARAGE DESTROYED. GOOD WORK BY THE BRIGADE. A large motor garage, situated in the centre of the shopping area of Station Road, Papatoetoe, was destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. The alarm was raised at 1.30 by the railway night staff, which caused a passing engine to give long intermittent hoots of its siren. The Papatoetoe Fire Brigade, on arriving, found the interior of the garage a raging inferno, and concentrated its efforts on saving tho drapery shop of Mrs. Bullen, standing about eight feet away. Under cover of sheets of iron and wet sacks the brigadesman played a lead on tho wood walls of the shop, and after a long anxious battle they prevented tho flames from spreading. It was a fine piece of work on tho part of the brigade, especially as all water had to bo carried from neighbouring tanks to the engine. In tho meantime the Otahuhu brigade arrived and played water on the rear of the garage, where it adjoined a billiard saloon. Tho efforts of the brigade, and the fact that there was a dividing wall of concrete blocks, resulted in the billiard saloon being saved. The heat was so intense at tho peak of the blaze that tho brick wall of the S. and A. Stores, a grocery establishment on tho west side, was thrown about nine inches out of plumb at the parapet. it is understood there were no cars in the garage at tho time. Considerable loss was sustained by Mr. A. J. Thorne, land agent, who occupied a portion of the building as an office, as his records, documents and fittings were not insured. The building was owned and occupied by Mr. A. Mephan, motor engineer, and was insured for £7OO in the Royal Insurance Company. Tho tools and stock were insured in the same office.