FIRE IN HOTEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 16

FIRE IN HOTEL

ROTORUA OUTBREAK HEAVY DAMAGE AVERTED EARLY DISCOVERY FORTUNATE [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] ROTORUA, Tuesday A fire broke out in the kitchon premises of the Grand Hotel, Rotorua, shortly after three o'clock this morning. Had the alarm been given a few minutes later the flames, which were already raging in the kitchen and adjoining staff dining room, would undoubtedly have gained a hold in tho main two-storey building. The glow of tho flames and tho rising smoke was noticed by chance by one of the firemen sleeping upstairs in the Rotorua lire brigade building in Haupapa Street, a block away from the hotel property. The brigadesman had risen during the night to get a drink, and looking out of the window in the direction of tho hotol saw tho flames reflected against the smoko rising from tho building. A full crew of eight was sleeping 011 tho premises, and the engine was out in record time. A lead was taken in tho back gate to the blazing kitchen, and within five minutes it was apparent that the fire could be got under control. Fortunately the majority of tho guests in the hotel did not realise what had happened until tho danger was past, although those in rooms overlooking the" bAck portion of the premises wero alarmed by the rising glare. The kitchen and the adjoining staff dining room were badly damaged, but tho damage was practically confined to these two rooms. The adjoining staff quarters did not suffer except to a slight extent from smoke and water, while tho main building was almost unaffected. Prompt arrangements wero made for the comfort of the guests.