FIRE IN THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19965, 6 December 1926, Page 10

FIRE IN THEATRE

OUTBREAK AT AUCKLAND. FULLERS’ OPERA HOUSE. A SPECTACULAR BLAZE. EXTENSIVE |)AMAGE DONE. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, December 4. A disastrous fire broke out in the Fuller’s Opera House shortly after 11 o’clock last evening, the cause being 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 the upper part of the building was like a furnace, the reflection of which could for the best part of half an hour be seen for miles around. With the burning of the roof tons of debris were hurled into the body of the 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 their tasks was to confine the 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. , . Several leads of hose were played oyer 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 10 minutes before it could be accomplished. Leads were then transferred through the openings thus made with a noticeable effect on the flames, the brilliance of which died away in a matter of seconds. Dense volumes of smoke, illuminated now and then by fitful outbursts of flame, showed the fire had been mastered, but was dying hard, -he clatter of falling pieces of timb- • roofing continued, and the firemen still plied their axes -at the lower doors to effect new avenues of attack, particularly at the stage end, where the lower part of tlu. building, owing to its proximity to the origin of the fire, had suffered most. After and 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 the flames spread after the curtain became ablaze that three persons within the building—Mr \ • Singe, stage manager, Mrs Singe, and Mr Diamond, scene artist—had barely time to escape. In the process Mr Diamond received burns on the arms, while Mr Singe was severely shaken by the expenciico. He did not even have time to rescue his coat, but rushed for the exit in his shirt sleeves. “A fuse blew out on the No. 2 board, the second board from the front beside the stage.” said Mr Singe. “Before we knew where we were the flames had spread to what we call the flies, and caught the curtain. Everything happened so suddenly that the whole place seemed to go up in flames. I tried to run out a lead of hose, but had no time, so I rushed out and gave the alarm. The fighting of the fire was fraught with no little personal risk to the firemen. One fireman entered the theatre by the rear door a fraction of a second before a large burning fagot of wood came crashing down to the street from the top of the building, striking the pavement on the very spot the fireman had traversed. The theatre performance ended about 10 35 p.m., and the fire broke out 40 minutes later, by which time everyone except Mr and Mrs Singe and Mr Diamond had left the premises. Most of the members of the “Midnight Frolics Company had their property stored under the stage. Water caused the chief damagein that vicinity. At least some of the members of the company did not have their property insured. The adventures of a little dog, the property of Mr Clem Dawe, which was kept in the theatre, provided a slight diversion for the spectators in the later stages of the fire. The dog was missed early, but could not be located, and it was thought to have met with a painful death. It was given up as lost, but after the flames had been practically subdued the dog unexpectedly ran out from a lane beside the theatre yelping with terror. It was pursued by a section of the crowd, and when caught proved to be little the worse for its experience in the blazing theatre. This morning the interior of the Opera House presented a scene of desolation, and the sunlight streamed through on to piles of charred debris and beams. Beneath the stage, in the basement, there was water ankle deep, which flowed abou. the “props” of the “Midnight Frolics Company, while the members of the company waded to and fro in an to assess the amount of the damage. As much of the property was packed m crates the full extent of the damage could not be ascertained, but the dyes were running freely, and it was evident that anything in the nature of wearing apparel had suffered severely. It was promptly arranged with one of the city laundries to assist in the drying-out process, and there were hopes of being able to “carry on” with the least possible delay. Two lady members of the company paddled m the gloomy pool beneath the stage m search of personal treasures, and one consoled herself with the remark “that it was the smallest wardrobe that she had had since being associated with the. show.” ~ In the orchestral well were the remnants of a piano, and on the stage a grand piano and a big viola were reduced to an inarticulate point. Close by were the remains of a giant thermometer. The mercury had risen to where fever point was marked, and then by way of a protest the glass had shattered. Arrangements have been made to carry on in another theatre at once. . The building and contents are insured in Lloyd’s for approximately £25,000. HOTEL DESTROYED. BLAZE AT HOKITIKA. (Per United Peess Association.) HOKITIKA, December 4. The Commercial Hotel, of which Mr J. L. Fowler was the licensee, a large wooden two-story building in Revell street, was completely destroyed by fire at 1 o’clock this morning, practically all the contents being lost. The inmates escaped in their night attire. The fire had apparently started in the middle of the building, and had a good hold when the alarm was given. The insurances are not available. RESIDENCE BURNED DOWN. (Peb United Press Association.) LEVIN, December 4, A fire at 1.30 this morning destroyed a fifteen-roomed residence at Ihakara, which was owned by Mrs J. Potts, of Palmerston North, and occupied by B. C. Russell, a sharcmilkcr. The cause of the outbreak 5s unknown. The insurances were £2OOO on the house in the State Office, and £440 on the furniture.