BIG FIRE AT KAIAPOI.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 21 January 1927, Page 9

BIG FIRE AT KAIAPOI.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE. By Telegraph—Press Association. ; " CHRISTCHURCH, January, 20. Damage, expected to amount to some thousands of pounds, tvas caused this affcerncon by an outbreak ol : lire at a big establishment at. Blackwell’s Ltd., Kaiapci, importers and general merchants, on the cornel- of High and Raven Streets, Kaiapci. The fire, which started in the workroom of the dressmaking department on the first floor, is supposed to have been caused by a heated electric iron, the current having been left on accidentally. - The fire had a good hold of the dressmaking room when the alarm was Fibunded,; and owing to the dense smoke, the brigade was considerably hampered in getting the fire under control. Tne .dressmaking workroom and the Furnishing Department, on the top floor, were badly damaged by fire and water, and extensive damage Was also caused by water to the millinery, mantle /and clothing departments, on Hie ground floor. ' Recently, the circssmaking room, winch was not permanently used for the purposes of dressmaking, was converted into a storeroom.

It is understood that someone went into the -workroom to use the electric iron, but finding the power was cut off went out. Later, however, the power'came on, and it is surmised that in consequence of the switch not being turned off in the room, the heated iron started the fire. .. The building was insured in the London and Lancashire Insurance Co. for £11,500, and the contents for £12,000 in the same office.