FIRE AT MILTON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23692, 27 December 1938, Page 15

FIRE AT MILTON

BOARDING HOUSE DESTROYED BABY'S CRIES GIVE ALARM Fire destroyed a 10-roomed wooden house at Milton yesterday morning, the alarm being given at 3.40 a.m. the building was a boarding house owned and occupied by Mr and Mrs W. K. Wright in Ajax street. The structure ' was blazing fiercely when the brigade srr'ved and nothing could be done | to effect a save. The water pressure 1 from the borough supply was inade- ' ciuate to cope with the outbreak, and the electric pump at the Bruce Woollen Mills was brought into commission. Another house, about 10 feet away, ! owned by Mrs M. Dale and occupied ' by her and her daughter, was in grave danger of catching fire, and two leads i of hose were played alternately over : it and the boarding house. This house was badly scorched and damaged by ' water. Mrs Dale, an elderly woman 1 who has been confined to her bed for I about three months, was carried to safety to a neighbour's place, and all the furniture in the house was quickly removed by voluntary helpers. Mr and Mrs Julien, their baby, and Mr J. Russell were in residence in the boarding house at the time of the outbreak, and the alarm was given by the crying of the baby, which awoke its parents in time for them to escape, after, warning. Mr Russell. They saved only a few personal belongings. Owing to the holidays, the staff of the volunteer [ fire brigade was not at full strength, but, although ready assistance was forthcoming, the fire had too strong a hold, and nothing was saved. The insurances on the house , and furniture have not yet been ascertained.

OUTBREAK IN CAFE QUICK WORK BY FIREMEN (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON. Dec. 26. Quick work by the firemen prevented more serious damage from being done in the Cafe Royal in Lambtcfti quay when a fire broke out in the kitchen at the rear of the cafe late on Saturday afternoon. The woodwork above the range and around the chimney was blazing fiercely, and flames were leaping through a broken skylight in the ceiling when brigadesmen from the Central Fire Station arrived on the scene two minutes after the alarm was given. Leaving their half-finished meals on the tables, patrons hurriedly left the cafe as the firemen rushed two hoses and chemical extinguishers to the rear of the building. Less than 10 minutes after going into action the brigadesmen had the flames under control. A curious crowd, consisting mostly of telegraph boys, quickly gathered about the door of the cafe, and two police constables were fully employed keeping the entrance clear. Inside the floor was covered with about half an inch of water, and at the rear of the building the stock was extensively damaged by smoke and water, a number of tasty dishes that had been waiting to be served being covered in black smuts and soot. , . •.. . The fire started when a mat ignited on a stove near the chimney. The proprietor of the cafe threw a bucket of water over the fire, and, as he thought, put it out. Unnoticed,, however, sparks got behind the chimney, and the fire gained a firm hold before it was discovered. The building was not insured.