£12,000 DAMAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 14

£12,000 DAMAGE

FIRE IN DUNEDIN PRINTING FIRM'S PREMISES BRIGADES' STRENUOUS TASK HINDERED BY HEAVY SMOKE [by TET.F.CRArn OWN CORRESPONDENT] DUNEDIN, Tuesday Damage estimated at £12,000 was done by fire which broke out in the third storey of the printing premises owned and occupied by C. B. Smith, Limited, in Stafford Street, at 5.30 o'clock this morning. A large crowd which assembled in the street witnessed a spectacular fight with the flames by firemen, who attacked the fire from all sides.

Flames were shooting from the front and back windows on the third floor when four brigades arrived. Four leads of hose were used —from a fire escape, from a roof level with the second floor, up the stairs from Stafford Street and from the extension ladder on one of the five machines. Heavy black smoke from smouldering paper inside the building hindered the firemen as they fought their way up to the third floor.

From a large room of 3000 square feet, over which the fire swept, the flames spread to the back corner of the floor below and, the windows being barred, firemen forced a door and thus prevented the fire from spreading further. From there they worked their way up to the third floor, and within half a,n hour had the flames under control. Large stocks of paper and valuable printing plant were badly damaged, and it is feared that few of the machines will be salvaged. Water caused a certain amount of damage to the storeroom on the floor below.

The insurances, held in eight offices, include £II,OOO on stock and plant and £6OOO on the building.