FIRE IN GISBORNE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19379, 17 July 1937, Page 4

FIRE IN GISBORNE

UPSTAIRS STORE ROOM BRIGADE’S GOOD SAVE A fine save was made by the Gisborne Fire Brigade last night when a fire broke out in a small upstairs storeroom of the two-storeyed building occupied by Messrs. Hallenstein Bros, in Gladstone road. A survey this morning showed that the fire had been confined to a remarkably small area, considering the fact that it started in the centre of the building. Extensive damage was done by water seeping through on to the clothing stocks in Messrs. Hallenstein Bros.’ shop below.

The alarm was given by a driver of the Red Bus service from a street box on the corner of Peel street and Gladstone road, and the promptitude of the brigade in turning out undoubtedly was responsible for the fire being checked at such an early stage. Ic was evident that had the alarm been delayed a few minutes the flames would have quickly obtained a good hold on the timber work.

Although an endeavour was made by the firemen to keep the damage by water as low as possible, they had of necessity to play a considerable quantity on the ceiling to fight the fire, which was extending rapidly along the rafters.

Firemen, police and others assisted to carry the stock in the shop beneath to drier places, where they covered the clothing with oilskins, overcoats and canvas covers.

The lounge of Findlay’s tea-rooms, which was divided only by a partition from the locality where the fire broke out was most fortunate to escape practically undamaged. Very slight water damage wafe caused also in a small room occupied by Mr. Arthur Owen. This room, too, was adjacent to the one in which the outbreak occurred.

The cause of the outbreak had not been ascertained to-day. The storeroom had not been entered since 4 p.m. on Thursday.

The insurances on Hallenstein Bros’ premises are not known in Gisborne as the policies have been taken out by the head office in Dunedin.