HOSPITAL FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23220, 14 December 1938, Page 12

HOSPITAL FIRE

INELSON NURSES' HOME FINDINGS OF THE CORONER ASPHYXIATION BY SMOKE rBY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] NELBON, Tuesday "It is clear that deceased never left her bed. Probably she never even moved. Her remains rested on a wire mattress, and no doubt her death was duo to asphyxiation, and she probably did not suffer as far as burning is concerned,' 1 said the coroner, Mr. T. E. Maunsell, at tho inquest concerning the death of Nurse Mary Coudell Rothwell, who died in the fire at the new nurses' home at tho Nelson Public Hospital on October 30. The inquiry into the cause of the firo .was held at the same time. Tho coroner commented that it was amazing how rapidly the fire had enyeloped tho whole building. To his mind that was due mainly to the material of which it was constructed, although, perhaps, as suggested by tho fire brigade superintendent, inflammable gases might also have been a contributory cause. It was remarkable in the circumstances, he said, that more of the occupants were not trapped. He was satisfied that the iron collapsible ladders, as provided, were unsuitable escapes. A verdict that the nurse died from asphyxiation by smoke was returned. 'The coroner added that the origin and cause of the fire were a mystery, but he was certain it did not start in tho furnace room, because that part was less affected by the fire than any other. He was quite satisfied that the fire began under the floor of the sitting room, which was adjacent to tho boiler, and the most feasible theory was that there must have been considerable heat passing through the floor of the Bitting room. He agreed with the superintendent of tho brigade that the indirect cause of the fire was heat coming from the boiler and passing •under the sitting room. A verdict that the cause and origin or the fire were indirectly traceable to the furnace, but that otherwise the cause was not established by evidence, was returned