FIRE IN THE CITY

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1691, 26 November 1925, Page 5

FIRE IN THE CITY

FARMERS? TRADING COMPANY EXHIBIT ON FIFTH FLOOR RUINED AUCKLAND, Wednesday, very much damage, was caused by a fire which broke out in the fifth floor of the Farmers’ Trading Company’s bukding, at the -corner o-f Hobson and Wyndham Streets, about 11,45 a.m. to-day. The outbreak originated in and was confined to a display concerning the famous film comedian Charlie Chaplin, in the southern corner of the furnishing and gramophone department, on the fifth floor. The display was erected to represent an Alaskan hut amid the snow, with a figure of the comedian standing in front of the hut. With great suddenness flames were observed bursting from a back screen, the hut and floor, and in a few seconds the curtains, screens, and other inflammable drapings used in the exhibit were ablaze. The who-.e building is equipped with patent sprinklers, which run along the roofs of the various floors, these fire extinguishers being placed about 10 feet away from each other. The fire was just beginning to gain a hold when the heat melted the taps of the sprinklers, causing three to play upon the fire. The water which spouted from the sprinklers soon extinguished the blaze—so soon, in fact, that the services of the fire brigade were not required. However, the exhibit was almost destroyed by fire and water, whi.e musical instruments which were stacked at the rear of the display were considerably damaged by water. Yhe large volume of water which was disciiarged found its way to several floors below the fifth, some damage being caused in the hardware and drapery departments. Although the approximate amount of damage caused by the fire is not yet -available, the general manager of the Farmers’ Trading Co., Mr R. A. \Laidlaw, does not consider that it is particularly extensive. The cause of the outbreak is not known, although some consider taht it may have been caused by the fusing of an electric wire. The . insurances are held by the South British Insurance Company.