FIREMAN’S TRAGIC DEATH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19904, 25 September 1926, Page 14

FIREMAN’S TRAGIC DEATH.

- COLLAPSES AT EIRE. (Per United Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, September 24. A tragic occurrence attended a fire in Messrs Hardwood’s (Ltd.) house decorating establishment to-night. A fireman named A. C. Allen dropped dead after coupling up the hose to fight the flames, lie had resided at the station for 13 years with a break of three years when he served at the war. When the bell rang to-night he rode on the engine to the scene of the fire, and immediately took the hydrant. He had made the connection and turned on the water when he suddenly collapsed and died. He was a single man, and was popular with the brigade. Heart failure is assumed to be the cause of death. The fire was in an old wooden building in tU heart of the main street, the premises being heavily stocked with paints, oils, paper, etc. The fire was firmly established when the brigade arrived, and some difficulty was experienced in subduing it. It is estimated that the stock was damaged to the extent of £2OOO. The insurance on the stock was £4OOO. but the insurance on the building, which was not greatly damaged, is not available.