FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 34

FIRES.

TWENTY-&EVEN-ROOMED HOUSE GUTTED. AUCKLAND, June 17. Windsor Boarding-house, a 27-roomed establishment, in Khyber Pass road, was gutted by fire at 8 o’clock to-night. The fire had a good hold when the brigade arrived. The building had been empty for several weeks. The cause of the fire ia unknown. The building was included in the property taken over by the City Council for waterworks extensions. The insurances and valuation were not available to-night. OUTBREAK IN GARAGE. AUCKLAND, June 17. Upwards of 35 cars, valued at something over £20,000, were endangered by a fire, which occurred on the premises of Rushton’s Motor Sales, situated in Albert street, this morning. The outbreak, the cause of which is unknown, was discovered in a tool room underneath the staircase. The flames were spreading rapidly to the rear portion of the building when the tire brigade put in an appearance, two minutes after the alarm had been given, and effected a good save. The damage was largely confined to the staircase. GARAGE DESTROYED. AUCKLAND, June 17. A serious fire broke out in a garage in Park avenue, Papatoetoe, about 9 o’clock last night, three motor trucks being in the garage at the time, and these were totally destroyed. The building which was a wooden-framed structure with corrugated iron roof, was owned by Mr W. R. Hamilton. The fire started with a sudden burst of flame, and when a quantiy of benzine, which was stored there, exploded, the whole building was wrecked.

OUTBREAK IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, June 18. Through an open tin of petrol capsizing and igniting at a small outbreak they, were attending early this morning, Superintendent C. C. Warner and Motor Foreman William Low. of the Central Fire Brigade, received injuries that necessitated their removal to the Christchurch Hospital. Fireman A. Russ also received injuries through having to force his way out of the burning building through a small plate glass window. The extent of the injuries are as follows : — Superintendent Warner, burns on face and hands. Motor Foreman Low, burns on face and hands. Fireman Russ, cuts on both hands and injuries to right leg. The outbreak occurred at 4.45 o’clock this morning in a small bicycle and vulcanising shop at 380 Lincoln road, Addington. occupied by Mr H. D. M'Gloin. and owned by the Zealandia Milling Co. The mishap to Superintendent Warner occurred while he was investigating in the loft over the shop where the fire started. .There was a lot of old ’ tyres and rubbish in the loft, and the superintendent came across an open petrol tin. On pulling it towards him to ascertain what it contained, it capsized, and the contents, which proved to be petrol, ignited and splashed his face and hands, which were severely burned. Motor Foreman Low at the time ths I tin capsized was standing immediately under a hole that the fire had burned in the ceiling of the loft immediately over ttie interior of the shop. Some of the burning petrol escaped through the hole and splashed on him without any warning. It is expected that Superintendent Warner and Foreman. Low will remain for a week or 10 days in hospital. The interior of the shop was destroyed by the fire and the contents damaged by water. The insurances amount to £l5O in the London and Lancashire office. BIG . BLAZE IN WANGANUI. WANGANUI, June 19. A mystery fire occurred at No. 3 Lino yesterday, Mr A. P. London’s 13-roomed house and contents being completely destroyed. The Central File Brigade turned out, but on arrival the building, which was a wooden one, was a seething mass of flames. In the absence of water, the locality being beyond the city boundary, the brigade could do nothing, though with water at least half the building could have been saved. The loss is about £2OOO. The contents included many valuable trophies won by Mr London at various bowling tournaments in New Zealand and in the Old Country. The origin of the fire is a mystery. The fire was lighted in the range in the morning and was subsequently removed and the _range cleaned. Mrs and Mr Pat London, ''secretary of the Wanganui Rugby Union, left home for football at about 1 o’clock, no fire having been, used in the house for several hours previously. A couple of hours later the outbreak occurred. Mr London was in the Taranaki district. It is thought that perhaps a tramp., of whom there are a good many, about just now, may have made a fire in the precincts of the house and that the strong wind blowing carried some of the ashes to the building, thereby causing the fire.

COSTUMIER’S SHOP GUTTED ROTORUA, June 18. Fire gutted a costumier’s shop, occupied by Mrs Margaret Ross, in Tutanekai street. The alarm was given by the occupant, who lives on the premises. The brigade confined the flames to the shop, and departments adjoining were undamaged save bv smoke.