NARROW ESCAPE FROM FIRE

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1930, Page 14

NARROW ESCAPE FROM FIRE

VERY OLD BUILDING DESTROYED. ; When fire destroyed an old house in Devon Street, New Plymouth, at 3.30 yesterday morning Mrs. M. A. Mills and her foster child narrowly escaped being burned. ■ The house was built in 1&60 and the owner, Dr. D. E. Brown, had arranged to have it demolished within the next fortnight. . • Mrs. Mills woke to find her bedroom full of smoke. She tried one doorway and was driven back by the smoke and then went through a large side window round to the back of the house. .From there she managed to find her way to the room of the boy, who waa asleep. The alarm was given and the brigade ran out two leads, concentrating on the back of the house, where the flames were fiercest. The timber was very dry and burned rapidly. The fire appeared to have started in the sitting room. When the fire appeared to have been extinguished the roof began to smoulder again and the brigade had to pay a second visit at 6 • o’clock. The house . was completely gutted and all the furniture destroyed. Dr. Brown had recently bought the house from Mr. Rowe, of Beil Block. The building was insured in the State Fire Office for £3OO, and the furniture was covered by a policy for £l5O in the Eagle, Qj -ir and British Dominions Office.