FIRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13586, 7 May 1906, Page 7

FIRES.

A 10-roomed house, with two storeys, owned and occupied. by Mrs W. Bridger and family, at Caversliam Rise, was totally destroyed hy fire last night. Some of the memliers of the family were at ohurch at the time, but the majority of them, including Mrs Bridger, were at home, sitting in a room upstairs. It was remarked by someone that there was a smell of fire, and on Aire Bridget's son going downstairs ho was mot with a dense cloud of smoke, which compelled him to return. It was at once retognised that it was too late to use tho fire-prevention apparatus with which the house was provided, and the inmates made a hurried exii. The flames, fanned by a strong east wind, spread rapidly, and in a very short time the house was ablaze

throughout. Captain Frwiric (of t-lio Navols), a neighbour, lent timely assistance, and helped Mrs Bridger to reach safe quarters. The house was levelled with the ground, but the stable and a shod were not touohed. It is thought that the fire broke out downstairs in the kitchen, where some clothes were airing in front of the range. The lower portion of the hou.% was of brick, while the upstairs was of wood. The building was insured in the South British office for £550. The furniture was also insured, Init for what amount could not lie ascertained last night. Nothing at all was saved—furniture, clothing, or anything else. Mrs Bridger's son, who has just returned from India, lost a considerable quantity of' articles lie had brought back with him. The Caversham Brigade (Captain Russell) turned out, but with a poor pressure of water to work with they could do nothing to stop the progress of the flames.

A telephone message from the Central Police Station at 9.40 p.m. on Saturday notified the fire brigade that their services were required at. the site of Stokes's Building, opposite the Otago Daily Times Office, in Dowling street 1 . Pedestrians abroad were somewhat puzzled to hear three strokes on the firebell, and many coneluded thaUf was a false alarm ;• but,when Captain Mitchell nud half a dozen men reached the scene it was found that a gas ict (for lighting the hoarding) had evidently been tampered with, and had set fire to some of the woodwork around it. Five minutes' work with hatchets and a chemical extinguisher succeeded in putting out the fire after a trifling amount of damage had been done. As tho police had instructed tiio brigade not to ring tho firebell very few people were aware that the brigade's services were required.