FIVE STOREYS ABLAZE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1928, Page 11

FIVE STOREYS ABLAZE

CONFLAGRATION IN SYDNEY MOST SPECTACULAR OUTBREAK. MENACE FROM PETROL STORES. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Oo-pyright. Australian Press Association. Received Sept. 23, 11.5 p.m. Sydney, Sept. 23. A fire this morning in Chancery Chambers, Phillip Street, was the most spectacular seen for some time. Flames were noticed at the rear by an employee of a garage occupying the ground floor of the five storeys comprising the building. When the fire brigade arrived the flames were leaping to a great height and there appeared little chance of saving the building. The ground floor was filled with taxicabs and apprehension prevailed for a time lest the petrol stocks should explode. The cars, which aggregated in value at least £16,000, were run out to safety. The garage escaped serious damage, but the four upper floors were all badly gutted. The fire apparently started in the second floor. A brigade officer expressed the opinion that it had been burning since Saturday afternoon. The man who gave the alarm said he heard a noise in the upper part of the building and thought it teas a tenant. He beard the sounds again and suspected there might be burglars. He was going to telephone the police when he observed a red glow, so he called the fire station instead.

The building was largely occupied by legal firms, likewise the adjoining Selbourne Chambers, which suffered some damage.