SPLENDID SAVE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 416, 26 July 1928, Page 1

SPLENDID SAVE

WELLESLEY STREET FIRE

WOODEN HOUSE GUTTED

BRIGADES SMART ACTION

Only the prompt arrival of the City Fire Brigade saved a large two-storeyed boarding-house annexe in Wellesley Street from destruction to-day. soon after 1 o’clock. Unknown to the residents of the rest of the boarding-house, the lire had gained a good hold before the outbreak was discovered, and the building was burning furiously when the firemen arrived. Fortunately, the flames were prevented from spreading to adjoining premises, but a large part of the interior of the house was gutted and considerable damage done V> furniture and bedding. The premises are known as Wellesley House. There are three buildings altogether—the jniddle one, where the outbreak occurred, being of wood. Those on either side are of brick. Mrs. A. Levdon, the proprietress, left yesterday for a holiday in Helensyille. and her son, Mr. K. Levdon, is in charge of the house. Soon after 1 o’clock to-day Mrs. M. Highet, a member the staff, heard the crackling Qf wood while she was eating her lunch. flushing outsid . she saw op Crwn the | middle of the building. through the roof. Her calls brought other members of the staff, who gave the alarm. The City Fire Brigade was on the ! scene three minutes later, and soon several leads of hose were playing on ' the flames. Under Superintendent W. L. Wilson, the fire was quickly extinguished, but. not before about a dozen rooms and the stairs had been gutted. As the building was comparatively old. and built of wood. the flam s swept through it in a few minutes. The outbreak had started under the stairs, which acted as a funnel, and soon volumes of smoke were pouring through the roof. The suddenness with which the flames took command can be guaged from the fact that tho employees of Beere and Co., engineers, in Prospect PI; f-e. only a few feet away, only realised that the place was on fire when the brigade arrived. Mrs. Highet. who discovered the outbreak, had been scrubbing some steps at the entrance to the building only a few minutes previously*. There were only* two boarders in the building which was burned. Several : members of the staff, whose rooms ! were at the back, hurriedly* removed their belongings into the y*ard. i Largo quantities of bedding and furj niture were soaked by the water, and I the loss w’ill be considerable. Boarders in the two adjoining houses did not lose any* of their belongings.