HOUSE GUTTED BY FIRE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1930, Page 9

HOUSE GUTTED BY FIRE

BLAZE IN DEVON STREET WEST.

LARGE CROWD WATCHES BRIGADE

■When fire broke out in a two-storey four-roomed house in Devon Street West/ New Plymo'uth, and gutted the building yesterday afternoon, a crowd of onlookers, numbering between 300 and 400 quickly gathered and, blocking the roadway, prevented trams moving towards the post office. Thope living in the house, a tall, narrow wooden building occupied by Mr. G. H. Perry, watchman at Moore’s garage, and owned by Messrs., Bruce and Feakine, were away at the time of the outbreak, -The fire wa's' first noticed by employees at Moore’s garage and the alarm was given by Mr. W. T: Nuttally who rang the - fire station at about 3.20 p.m. ’ When the brigade arrived the fire had a strong hold, flames and smoke leaping frorn the windows. Two leads were taken into the building but the fire was tenacious and as soon as it was •.':. quenched in one placiF it broke opt in /•.another. The firemen, watched.-by an / interested crowd, were kept very busy for nearly three-quarters of. an hour. The house was narrow and the windows faCed each other; with the resultthat the onlookers.: were liberally sprinkled with water -from the hoses on numerous occasions; The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is believed that it originated un- . der the stairs. Before the brigade arrived two employees of the garage attempted to reach the first floor, where it’was thought someone-was. trapped; They were forced to retire, the smoke driving them back. It was discovered later that the house was unoccupied at the time. The building was completely gutted and what little furniture and effects •were salved were ruined by either fire >r water. The house was insured for £6OO with the Guardian Company and he furniture for £125 with the Atlas Company.