LIKE A FURNACE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12622, 6 December 1926, Page 6

LIKE A FURNACE

BIG FIRE AT AUCKLAND FULLERS’ OPERA HOUSE DAMAGED BRIGADE DO EXCELLENT WORK Por Press Association. ATJCKEAND, December 4. A fire broke out in Fullers’ Opera House shortly after 11 o’clock last evening, and is attributed to a fuse blowing out in the switchboard behind the stage and igniting a curtain from which the flames quickly spread to the upper portion of the theatre. The fire secured such a firm hold that in a few minutes part of the building was like a furnace. With the burning of the roof tons of debris were hurled into the body of tlie theatre and the major portion of the building was left in a state of practically complete destruction. The difficulties of the firemen were increased owing to the character of the building. One of thoir tasks was to confine tho flames to the upper part, but the result of this was that a constant shower of burning timber and dislodged fittings rained into the auditorium, necessitating a detachment of firemen to extinguish minor outbreaks caused in this way. Exposed to this shower and working in a stifling atmosphere of smoke the. task of the men detailed for this duty was far from enviable. A HARD FIGHT Several leads of- hose were played over the roof while the operation of breaking open the fire escape doors of the upper portion of the building proceeded. This proved somewhat difficult owing to the stout construction of the locked doors, and it was ten minutes before it could be ascomplished. Leads were transferred through the openings thus made with a noticeable effect on the flames. In an hour’s hard fighting the brigade succeeded in bringing completely under control a fire that threatened to be a serious menace to the adjoining buildings. So quickly did tho flames spread after the curtain became ablaze that three persons within the building, Mr W. A. Singe, stage manager, Mrs Singe and Air Diamond, scenic artist, had barely time to escape. In getting out Diamond received burns to the arms and Singe was severely shaken by the experience. ' FLAMES SPREAD RAPIDLY “A fuse blew out on No. 2 board which is the second board from the front,” said Mr Singe, “and before we knew where we were the flames had spread to what we call the ‘flies’ and ■•aught tlie curtain. Everything liap--pril so suddenly that the whole •seemed to go up in flames. I tr> run out a lead of hose hut . time so rushed out and gave arm.** ■ examination of the building smnvud that the stage and its precincts and the family circle suffered most severely from the flames. The dress circle was extensively damaged by water, but the flames did not spread to that portion, nor to the stalls, Tho walls of the building aro of brick and this checked the development of the fire. The staircases remained intact, enabling the firemen to reach the seat of the fire expeditiously although difficulty was experienced in subduing thq flames in the roof. The fire in that portion of the building blazed for over two hours. COMPANY LOSE EFFECTS Most of the members of the Midnight Froliee Company had their property stored under the stage, but the full extent of the loss is not yet known. Water was the cause of the chief damage in that vicinity. At least some of the members of the company did not have their property insured. INSURED FOR £28,000 The Opera House and contents were insured with Lloyd’s for £25,000. Fullers’ management have decided, to carry on business as usual, except for the cancellation of to-day’s matinee, in tho Prince Edward Theatre.