DWELLING GUTTED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 193, 15 August 1931, Page 14

DWELLING GUTTED.

No Water Available for Fire Fighting.

Fire early last evening gutted a sixroomed wooden house at 19, Vernon Terrace, St Martins, owned by Mr R. V. Dickey, of 40, Innes Road, and occupied by Mr and Mrs Chi vers. The area is outside the city boundary and no water was available. Only the chimneys were left standing. The occupants were absent at the time. The blaze lit up the whole of the southern sky and a large crowd soon collected. The Central Fire Brigade was called out but was unable to do anything to save the building, which by that time was enveloped in flames. Some attempt was made by spectators to organise a bucket brigade, but receptacles were few and the water distant. The nearest water in any quantity was a quarter of a mile away. The building was the oldest one in Vernon Terrace, situated on Rapaki Hill, off Hills Road. Mr Chivers had been away from the house all day, but Mrs Chivers and her child had visited it in the afternoon. The fire was first seen by Mr E. Bradford, who resides next door. He heard the noise of the blaze and communicated with the brigade. A number of native shrubs and trees in front of the house caught alight and there was some danger to neighbouring homes through cinders being carried by the wind, but by 10 p.m. the fire had died out. Many of the trees were destroyed. Dong grass also caught alight but was tramped out by the spectators. Mr and Mrs Chivers had not long occupied the house. All their personal belongings and furniture in the house were destroyed. When the fire was discovered it was then too late for an attempt to be made to remove anything. The house was insured for £6OO in the Queensland office.