OUTBREAK OF FIRE.

Otaki Mail, 31 March 1939, Page 3

OUTBREAK OF FIRE.

AMIDST VICTORIA HOUSE RUINS. BRIGADE KEPT BUSY WELLINGTON, Last Night. Nearly forty-eight hours after tho lire broke out in the lift well and rapidly spread to all parts of the building the debris in the ruins of Victoria House was still smouldering at five today. Though many premises in the affected area resumed business to-day and traffic was permitted to pass through Victoria Street at intervals the Wellington Eire Brigade was constantly on duty and hoses were ready for emergency. The ceiling of the third floor was particularly stubborn and at one stage in the afternoon flames and smoke wore issuing to such an extent from this portion of the building that the brigade was required to renew its energies afresh to the delight of the large crowd that had assembled. An extension lad der was called out from the central station and after manoeuvring tho heavy equipment into a suitable position the liremen climbed the ladder and took a lead of hose into the second floor. At this stage a cloud of yellowish smoke was issuing from the second and third floors, but after the firemen had clambered through tho gaping windows and a stream of water began to appear the smoke gradually disappeared. By G p.m. the minor outbreak was extinguished. A number of tenants of Vietoiia House who had rooms on the second floor clambered up the ladder and salvaged records of business transactions. Those fortunate enough to have their records in lire-proof safes rescued their books intact. Several firms with premises in Victoria Street resumed business to-day. Officers of the engineer’s department of the Wellington City Council are to make a complete survey of the shell, according to an announcement to-day, and till this survey is completed it will not be known whether tho standing walls are to be demolished.