LONDON FIRES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23401, 18 July 1939, Page 6

LONDON FIRES

lIVE "IN FOUR DAYS THE BARBICAN OUTBREAK WORST FOR 40 YEARS DRAMATIC INCIDENTS fFROM oun OWN con 11KSPONI)ent] , LONDON, Juno 20 After a week-end of bomb explosions in the heart of London, five fires occurred in the following four days. The causes have so far remained a mystery, but with each successive outbreak the two varieties of arson are being associated together. One of the fires was the biggest London has seen for JO years. It broke out at 7 p.m. in a three-storey block of offices at' the corner of Barbican and New Zealand Avenue, near Aldersgatc .underground station. By .10 p.m., when the fire was under control, four buildings in New Zealand Avenue and three in Barbican had been burned out. Eight other buildings were damaged. The whole of New Zealand Avenue was burned away, leaving only .the skeleton structure of the walls. In a short while four huge warehouses were ablaze from top to bottom. Many people escaped over tho roofs of adjoining buildings and more than 30 girls trapped in New Zealand Avenue had to rush through fierco flames to safety. Many of them had their hair singed. Roaring Wall of Flame The building where tho fire originated .was quickly burned out and tho walls began to collapse. The flames roared across New Zealand Avenue, which is a narrow cul-dc-sac, into the opposite buildings and through them to further buildings. Many of tho warehouses were stocked with highly inflammable goods. Thousands of gowns, bales of cloth, paper, straw goods, furs and hats fed the flames. The offices, showrooms and .workshops ?,of more than 30 firms were soon involved. The fire threatened to eat its way right down to the junction of Aldersgate and Barbican. There was a roaring wall of flame 200 ft. long. A general call was issued to all the 59 fire stations in the London County Council area to send appliances to the scene. More than 50 fire appliances were quickly engaged, with a force of nearly 300 firemen under the direction of the principal officers of the brigade. About 200 auxiliaries from all parts of London, including sections of the women's auxiliary services, were on duty. Two Other Outbreaks in City On the ; previous day a girl typist had lost her life in a fire in Queen Victoria Street. On the following day another huge fire broke out in a large hlock of buildings and Castle Baynard Wharf, where big stocks of paper and newsprint are held in bond for BowaterLloycl. were endangered. A dozen men made their escape from the blazing warehouse by leaping on to the mudbanks of the Thames, which was at low tide. The flames were fought from the,mudbanks and from fire boats on the river, while nearly a score of engines were crowded in Upper Thames Street. Some of the men from the floats were almost up to their necks in water as they struggled to wade ashore with lengths of hose. Rowing' boats were used to take others to the mudbanks. • About ~100 firemen, besides auxiliaries who were called to help, were engaged. The fire was under control by 7..'50 p.m. Four firemen, including a member of the auxiliary service, were taken to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, but were not detained. Smoke Spreads for Miles As clouds of smoke began to fill Upper Thames Street and Carron Wharf, the ,employees of the Carron Company rushed to the street. The flames shot 30ft. high and a few minutes later the roof, crashed in with a roar. Thick smoke spread for miles over the area like fog, and firemen had to put on their gasmasks. The fire was visible for miles, and parents who had daughters or wives who had husbands working in the city rang up continually to see if they were safe! One call said the fire could be seen 10 miles away.