SPECTACULAR BLAZE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20800, 17 February 1931, Page 10

SPECTACULAR BLAZE.

FIRE SPREADS RAPIDLY.

FOUR BUILDINGS SWEPT.

FREQUENT SHARP EXPLOSIONS.

p ' large area in flames J

The fire in. the city broke out in the promises of Modern Shoes, Limited. At the same time the fire at Partington's flour mill in Symonds Street was at its height, and the resources of the City fire brigade were severely taxed. Two engine? were at work on the Symonds Street fire, and two more were sent from the City Station to Federal Street." ' These were followed in ten minutes by the telescopic. ladder and later by engines from the Eemuera and Western Districts stations. At first' there seemed every likelihood that the fire would be confined to the premises of Modern Shoes, Limited. Several leads of hose were run out from the Federal Street front and from the Kingston Street and Victoria Street sides. Modern Shoes, Limited, is separated fromKingston Street by the Unity Presi; building and from Victoria Street by a row of shops fronting that street. Lengths of hose were taken up to these buildings in the endeavour to check the flames.

Seat of the Fire. The seat of the fire appeared to be in the top floor of the two-storeyed brick building of Modern Shoes. It spread throughout the building with amazing rapidity. Rolls of dense smoke poured from the windows and the roof, giving way in a few moments to masses of flame. In a quarter of an hour the whole building had become a seething inferno. The telescopic ladder was run up in Federal Street and although tine tiny etreams of water at first seemed- futile •gainst the raging fire they steadily gained effect and the flames wero under control as far as tho front of the building was' concerned. Alarm in Victoria Street. Danger threatened the shops on the Victoria Street side and many occupants were to be seen hastily removing furnituro and'effects to the street. Most of this material belonged to people living on the second storeys of the shops. However, the. fire did not spread on that side, nor did it go to the Kingston Street eide. Instead, the flames burst with alarming suddenness into the- buildings fronting Hobson Street. The first to go was the four-storeyed- brick - building of .Lichtengtein, Arnoldson and Company, gum merchants, formerly occupied by Hill and PJummer, "Limited, oil and colouir merchants. Awe-Inspiring Sight. Within a few minutes of the fire spreading to Lichtenstoin and Arnoldson's that building was ablaze from end to end. There were frequent resounding explosions and flames and showers of spark's shot high up into the air. The heat was terrific and under such conditions the task of tho fire-fighters was grim and strenuous.

It was not long before the roof collapsed with a crash, allowing the solid mass of flames to rise unchecked, presenting an awe-inspiring sight. Under the intense heat cracks developed in the wallii. After swaying ominously for a time a large section of the wall on the southern side fell outwards on to the roof of Cairns and "Woodward's tent and sail-making premises, crashing through it and opening the way for the spread of the fire to this building also. About the same time the Warren Engineering Company's tuilding on the northern side caught fire.

Flames Gradually Subdued. Sheets of flame rose from tho three doomed buildings in Hobson Street and so extensive was tho area covered that a further spread seemed imminent. The roar-of explosions, the flash of fire leaping upward and the crash of falling debris made the scene terrifying. In the meantime the.original fire in Modern Shoes, Ltd., was slowly burning-itself out. Gradually the upper hand was gained also on the Hobson Street front and danger pf other buildings being involved was averted. It was then 10.30, two hours *H6e the first alarm was given