FAMILY HAS NARROW ESCAPE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18644, 22 December 1928, Page 14

FAMILY HAS NARROW ESCAPE

FOUR LIVES THREATENED IN FIRE AT TIMARU. A four-roomed house situated in Gibson Street, Timaru, was gutted by fire shortly after eleven o’clock last night. The occupants, Mr and Mrs L. O’Leary and their four children, had a narrow* escape. All w*ere in bed at the time of the outbreak, and, when warned, had only time to leave the building in their night attire. The fire, which is believed to have started in the kitchen, spread rapidly, and soon had the building in a fierce grip. The brigade. w'hieh made a smart turn out. quickly got to the scene of the blaze, but weak water pressure hampered their efforts. A lead was finall\ r brought, across from North Street, and with four jets playing on the blaze, the outbreak was got under control. Extensive damage was done, however, little more than the outer w*alls of the building remaining. This is thrf third time that a house on the section has been destroyed by fire. The blaze attracted a large crowd, Gibson Street being crammed with spectators. Motor-cars, which had been parked close to the scene of the fire, greatly interfered with the work of the brigade. It was fortunate that the night w'as calm, as, had there been a wind, houses on either side of the burning building would have been in danger. ___