FIRES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1798, 22 August 1906, Page 60

FIRES

OUTBEEAK AT KILBIENIE. THREE BUILDINGS DEMOLISHED. A fire occurred at Kilbirnie South about half-past 9 last night, which ended in the total destruction of three buildings in Crawford road with their contents. The outbreak originated in a five-roomed house owned and occupied by Mr Hutchings and his family, all of whom were out at the time. The front portion of this building consisted of a two-storied shop, let to Mr Hunt as a drapery establishment. To the east of these premises, and standing on a corner, was a five-roomed dwelling occupied by Mis Olesen and owned by Mr Martin, whilst next door, on the west side of Hutchings’s, was a five-roomeds> house owned by Mr Alpe. The fire quickly gained a hold on the wooden buildings, and before much could be saved it had spread, enveloping the three houses mentioned. The Kilbirnie Volunteer Fire Brigade worked hard with their chemical engine and hand pumps. They formed a bucket brigade, utilising the water in the tanks at the rear of the burning premises, which were luckily full. The Volunteer Brigade was shortly supplemented by the Newtown and City Brigades, but their combined efforts (the pressure of water being very light) could not avert the utter demolition of the doomed houses, not a vestige of which —save half-a-dozen gaunt chimneys—remained an hour later. A fourth house, tenanted by Mrs Murphy, was at one time ablaze all along the side, but a plentiful supply of water and the use of ivet blankets prevented the fire going any further. During the excitement a large number of persons volunteered their services,and some were so zealous as to remove all the furniture out of the house next door on the west to Mrs Murphy’s, and tenanted as a refreshment room and shop, by Miss Wright. This lady was in town until late, and found ail her effects out at the back on her return. It was 11 o’clock before the firemen were able- to relax their efforts towards stopping the further spread of [the fire. The wind being southerly,, less damage was done than must have been done had it been either from the north or east. A surprising number of people flocked to the scene from Newtown and the city itself, the huge reflection cast by the flames upon the clouds being visible for miles in all directions. Mr Hutchings’s premises and Mrs Oleisen’s house were insured in the Commercial Union for <£4so and <£3so respectively. Mr Alpe’s dwelling was insured in the South British for <£4oo. AUCKLAND,. August 15. The launch Waitiri caxight fire in the harbour this morning, but the fire was suppressed after about fifteen minutes? hard fighting by the Fire Brigade. The cabin was burnt, but the engine and launch were not damaged.