DIOCESAN SCHOOL FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22119, 27 May 1935, Page 8

DIOCESAN SCHOOL FIRE

ONE ROOM BURNED PROMPT WORK BY BRIGADE SMOKE HAMPERS OPERATIONS School House, the main building of the Diocesan High School, Epsom, was saved from destruction by fire last night by the promptitude of the Rerouera and Parnell brigades. An outbreak which occurred at about 9.30 o'clock was confined to the scullery, at the south-eastern corner of : the building. The house, which is a two-storeved wood and iron structure of 20 roomn accommodates all the boarders, a total of about 30, the house mistress, four teachers, the cook and the kitchenmaid. Fortunately, none of the pupils or teachers was at the school owing to the first term holidays. The second term does not commence until Wednesdav week.

To prepare for the reopening, the cook, Mrs. J. Johnston, and the kitchenmaid, Mrs.. I. Denison, returned t:o the school yesterday with seven maids. Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. Denison had retired to their rooms in the building. Failuie of Lights The attention of Mrs. Denison, who was reading, was attracted by the faot that the light in her room went out. She called out to Mrs. Johnston ar;d together they investigated. "When thfy opened the kitchen door a short distance away they were met with clouds of choking smoke. The alarm was given by the caretaker, Mr. R. C. Fountaia. The members of the fire brigade were handicapped. by thick smoke which was not dispelled owing to the absence of wind but a lead of hose was quickly commissioned and the fire, got undi?r control. The scullery, adjoining the kitchen, was gutted and the walls of the bathrooms directly above were scorchei. Origin in Cupboard

The cause of the fire is unknown but the opinion that it had its origin in a cupboard in which chips and papa* were stored in the scullery was expressed by Mr. Fountain, who saw the outbreak in its early stages. " I was sound asleep when the fire occurred," said Mrs. Johnston. "When we opened the kitchen door the smolce almost choked us. In my hurry I pressed the house fire alarm and then called to the caretaker, who summoned the brigade."

The damaged building, which is owned by the Diocesan High Schools Council, has been occupied by tie schcol for 31 years. It was formerly the residence of the late Mr. Edwin Hesketh. Details of insurances were not available last night. DAMAGE TO TWO ROOMS OUTBREAK AT PARNELL Extensive damage to two of the four rooms of a wooden house at 35 Alpha Road, Parnell, was caused by a fire which broke out at about 10.30 last night. The occupants escaped uninjured, but they were unable to remove the contents, some of which was destrojei. Other property was damaged by smoke. The house, which is occupied by Uj. A. Smyth and his family, is owned by the Auckland Grammar School Board. When the fire occurred only Mr. Smyth and a boarder, Mrs. M. Robbie, were in the house, Mrs. Smyth and her son being on holiday. A strong smell of smoke was noticed by Mr. Smyth, but he paid little attention to it at first, as the house is near the railway line and he thought the smoke was from a locomotive. A little later, however, he investigated, and found the kitchen on fire. He rouiied Mrs. Robbie, whose room adjoins the kitchen, and as soon as ahe v was safe he went to a neighbour's hoyse to telephone for the fire brigade. , Meanwhile the fire had been noticed by a passer-by, who gave the alarm from a street box. Two engines were sent, one from the City station and one from Parnell. Although the flames had a strong hold oh the back of the house, only the Parnell brigade was required, and the city engine returned to the station.

The brigadesmen had the fire under control in a short time,, and were successful in confining the flames to the two back rooms. Furniture in the front rooms, which had been threatened with destruction, was only slightly damaged by smoke.