BLAZE AT WAIMATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22810, 20 February 1936, Page 10

BLAZE AT WAIMATE

BOARDING HOUSE DESTROYED INMATES’ NARROW ESCAPE (Special to Daily Times) WAIMATE, February 19. In one of the most spectacular blazes at Wairaate in recent years, a twostoreyed 17-roomed boarding house was destroyed by fire this evening. The outbreak * was discovered shortly after 9 p.m. and within a-quarter of an hour the flames had gained a strong hold in the upper storey. Built about 25 years ago, the house burned like tinder, and at the end of an hour the main part of the house had collapsed. Alone in the house with her three-year-old daughter, Mrs F. Duffy, wife of the proprietor of the boarding house, had a terrifying experience. Mrs Duffy was in a downstairs front room, when she heard a crash in the passage, and rushing out found the staircase blazing fiercely. Her first thought was for the baby lying in a room at the foot of the stairs. She had barely time to gather up: the child from its cot beforA the flames filled the passage. She carried the baby to a neighbour’s place, where she found that only the children were at home. One of the boys, however, ran to the fire brigade station, a short distance away, and gave the alarm. On its arrival, the brigade found the passage a mass of flames. The light wind blew the flames upwards, and all efforts to save the house were unavailing, the brigade concentrating on protecting a near-by cottage.' There were 14 boarders registered at the house, and their loss will be at least £4OO. Mrs Duffy’s losses included £4O in cash and a wireless set. The furniture, owned by Mrs Duffy, was partly covered by insurance.

The house was owned by Mr W. F. George and was insured for nearly its full value. Mr A. Walker, who was one of the boarders, had a room downstairs, and he was the only one to save any of his belongings. The cause of the fire is not yet known.