FIRE AT SHOWGROUNDS

Southland Times, Issue 22058, 4 July 1933, Page 6

FIRE AT SHOWGROUNDS

HORSE STALLS GUTTED.

BALES OF HAY LOST.

At 10.27 last evening, the City Fire Brigade was summoned by telephone to the showgrounds, where the looseboxes at the northern end were found to be well alight. In the stalls were some 12 tons of trussed hay, providing good fuel for the flames, which quickly spread along almost the entire length of the structure. Fortunately, however, it was a detached building and, there being little wind, the main duty of the firemen was to concentrate their efforts on extinguishing the outbreak in the stalls. This task was not a light, one, for the most suitable mains available—at Fox and Lowe streets —were a considerable distance from the actual scene of the fire. Two hoses had to be extended into one lead and several minutes elapsed before a steady flow of water could be obtained. In the meantime flames threatened to destroy the whole structure, but several volunteers worked strenuously and effected a break in the stock of hay by dragging several bales out into the open through the forced-in doors. Some time elapsed before the fire was under control, a large portion of the building being gutted. The destruction of most of the hay is no small item and a fairly heavy loss must result to the owners. The fire had obtained such a hold when the brigade arrived that it was difficult to determine the actual cause of the outbreak.