GERALDINE LARGE DWELLING ABLAZE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22200, 18 February 1942, Page 3

GERALDINE LARGE DWELLING ABLAZE

Strenuous Fight By Fire Brigade Auxiliaries On Duty For First Time A strenuous fight to extinguish a fire, which had a strong hold in a large sixroomed dwelling, was made by the Geraldine Volunteer Fire Brigade In the early hours of yesterday morning. The back portion of the house, owned by Musses B. and E. Sherratt, of Fergusson Street, was gutted, but the brigade prevented the fire from destroying the front portion of the house. The house was insured. The fire had a strong hold when the alarm was given at 6.20 a.m. It started in the washhouse and soon spread through the roof of the dwelling and gutted the back rooms. The tar felt lining in the ceiling carried the flames rapidly and the firemen had a strenuous fight with the flames and smoke under- the iron roof. They fought the fire with the only lead available from a three-inch main which gave an inadequate water supply. More than 500 feet of hose was necessary to reach the house from the main. With a view to providing an extra lead of water, to be pumped by the engine, an attempt was made to block the Serpentine for additional water but this was not completed before the fire was extinguished. The greater part of the furniture and clothing was moved to safety by neighbours. Auxiliary firemen were on duty in that capacity for the first time, and Superintendent C. C. Knight said he was very pleased with the assistance given by them and by the general public. No one should hesitate in giving an alarm if they suspected a fire, said Superintendent Knight, because time was the essence of a good save. He understood that the fire had been observed by some residents nearly half an hour before the alarm was given, but no steps had been taken to investigate it.