ORDEAL FOR FIREMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 14

ORDEAL FOR FIREMEN.

THREE SAVED BY EXPLOSION.

GOODS SHEDS IN DANGER

RAILWAY WAGGONS LOADED

[BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRISTCHURCII. Friday.

The goods sheds opposite Messrs. Brown and Company's store were cleared in record time by railwnymcn last night. As soon as the difliger from the blazing petrol store was observed, the Railway Department called in all its staff and all the goods'in the sheds opposite the fire were rapidly loaded into railway waggons. An engine was attached and the train was kept in readinoss all night to haul out if further danger threatened. Heavier goods were removed to another shed, which was separated by a fireproof wall.

The firemen did excellent work under grave difficulties. Tho intense heat proved a severe ordeal, but they never relin qui shed their efforts. Three firemen who were taking a lead to the south-western door of the burning building had not within a few feet of the door when a huge drum blew out in their faces. They were thrown violently backwards by tho force of the explosion, just as the brick gable above crashed outwards, falling within a few feet of the men. The hose was buried under the bricks and blazing petrol tins. Had it not been for the explosion the men might have been buried with the hose. As it was they escaped with a few bruises.

The water pressure obtained by the brigade was excellent, the streams from the hoses ascending for at least 60ft. into the air. To increase the water supply the firemen brought two big leads of hose all the way from the big main in Moorhouse Avenue. These hoses were run out over the Madras Street railway bridge and connected to the hydrant in the avenue 200 yards away.

At noon to-day the eastern wall of the building was blown out. The bricks collapsed on to the footpath, and the burning oil thus released flowed over the surface of the water in a huge mass of flame. A large column of black smoke ascended and it was followed by a fierce recrudescence of the flames. In spite of all the firemen could do to beat back the flames with the hoses, they made their way along the water down Madras Street to the front of two houses, which, for a while, appeared to be in danger. Gradually, however, the firemen beat the flames back and kept them confined to the front of the store. Here, for a long time, the fire raged furiously, the flames leaping high in the air. Large crowds of people assembled during the lunch hour, and saw the fire at a spectacular time. The police were busy preventing venturesome folk from approaching within the danger zone. The danger of further explosions was always present, and everything possible was done to prevent injury. As the oil continued to flow in the street tho blaze on top of the water continued fiercely. An ad jacent fence caught fire every few minutes, and was :.s promptly extinguished. The exact extent of the damage has not yet been determined, as a number of the returns have been burned in the fire and nothing can be done until duplicates are made out. The building was insured in the Royal Office for £2500, and the contents for an amount not yet ascertainable.

PRECAUTIONS AT NIGHT.

GUARDING LARGE BUILDINGS

UNEASINESS AMONG FIRMS

[I3V telegraph.—own correspondent.] CHRISTCHURCIL Friday.

The second fno last night which happened almost simultaneously with the oil store fire, caused severe damage to a motor-car and motor-cycle which were housed in a garage in Milton Strccf.

The case of attempted incendiarism occurred .i( tho premises of Adams, Limited, motor importers, but it was not discovered until this morning.

There seems to be no doubt that/ the oil store (ire was the work of incendiarists. Before 10.50 o'clock last evening two men were seen near the building. One was near the oil bond and tho other had a position on the top of tho steps of the railway overhead bridge which commands an excellent view of Madras Street, Carlylc Street and the oil bond itself. These two men were seen to get into a motor-car and leave the scene. When the firemen arrived within a few minutes of the alarm being given they found that the western sliding door was closed, but tho padlock was missing. Mr. W. Pryce, a traveller for tho firm, and Mr. G. Lavender, head storoman, closed the bond at 5 p.m., after making a thorough inspection of the building. The doors were padlocked. No nightwatchman was employed. Some time last night someone threw burning paper into a grating at tho rear of the premises of Adams, Limited, which abut on to Poplar Street, off Tuam Street. The grating gave access to a strongroom where, a oua.itity of petrol was stored. The attempt to burn tho building was not discovered until this morning.

A feeling of uneasiness is spreading among'the larger business firms in the city us a result"of (ho alarming activities of the incendiarists. Many companies who hitherto have left their property, unguarded (luring the night hours are in search of trustworthy men to act as ni"Mwatehmen. It is intended that buildings and property will be under the eve of patrols front nightfall to daybreak.

Insurance companies have been heavily ! bit bv the succession of fires and are. lending support to property holders in (heir efi'o<ls to prevent further out breaks. The matter has been under serious consideration by the Canterbury Fire rnderwritcrs' Association, which has been in co-operation with tho police. Ihe lat4tor have advised all (ho big firms to have their premises closely guarded by nightwatchmen.