FIRE DRAMA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22202, 31 August 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIRE DRAMA

MAN FALLS INTO FLAMES Tiio whole of Bristol's fire-figliting resources were mobilised lately to deal with one of the largest fires known there for many years. The fire broke out early in the morning on the premises of Messrs. Bennett, rag and metal merchants, of Fairfax Street, and within 15 minutes a Church Army lodginghouse, a large timber yard, and one of the city's largest motor garages were involved. The fire was discovered by Captain JWharton, a warden of the hostel, who quickly marched 100 men, who were staying there, to safety in the nick of time. Hundreds of people on their way to work stopped to watch the firemen engaged in their fight. At tho height of the fire a young fireman named Stanley Barrett, who was on the top of a water tower, was seen to fall headlong into the burning building. Four of his colleagues immediately rushed to his aid and dragged him out. Ho was seriously injured and taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary in a critical condition. Before the outbreak was under control the whole of Messrs. Bennett s premises and hundreds of tons of timber had been destroyed, while tho Church Army hostel was also gutted. Sixty motor-cars in the Broadmeau garage were moved to safety, and three assistants had a miraculous escape from death. .. They -were going to a part of too garage, apparently unafFected,. to g e their overalls, when there was a® ominous rumbling of walls and - roor : They dashed back, and the whole o that section of the garage collaps within a few feet of them.