FURNITURE FACTORY FIRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19809, 28 November 1919, Page 7

FURNITURE FACTORY FIRE.

3LAZE IN COLOMBO STREET, The Fire Brigade received a call aVuit 9.20 last evening to an outbreak of fire in the promises of Mr John M. Mitchell, furniture warehouseman, ,Ua.th Street, off Colombo Street. At the time of the arrival of the brigade tho flames were shooting from the upper storey of the building, in whicn portion the fire seemed to have its greatest hold, hrom the lower storey lends of hose were taken tip the stairand after about a quarter of an 'hour s work tho flames were subdued, although tor some time the firemen had to pay attention to sections of the roof from Tilnch sparks wero occasionally falling. Considering the great amount of timber, articles of furniture, and the accumulation of shavings consequent upon the carrying on of a business of such a. nature, the “save” made by tlm brigade was a remarkably good one- Subsequent investigation led to the opinion that the fire had originated beneath a. circular saw bench on tho northern side of tho factory. Horn il was to he seen that the bench had been considerably charred, and that the belting shaft had disappeared. p n ,, sumably the fire had ni'n up the shaft' jng into the upper storey*. On this fhxir the cabinet-making work is done and the benches and wooden work mi the side of tho building immediate to the fire which came from the ground floor wore considerably damaged. The finished articles did not suffer "much and tho machinery, with one exception', was not materially injured. On the ground floor the firo made no progress whatever, and the sole damage was occasioned by tho water. The building, stock and machinery wap, insured m the Northern Office for £25,000. Mr Mitchell estimates that the damage done to the building amounts to £2OO and to the stock about £3OO.