NURSES’ HOME IN FLAMES

Waipa Post, Volume 43, Issue 3328, 28 July 1931, Page 4

NURSES’ HOME IN FLAMES

WOMEN JUMP FROM WINDOWS. SEVEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. WELLINGTON, Monday. One nurse and six domestics were injured this morning in making their escape from a fire -which broke out in the nurses’ quarters at Dr Herbert’s . Bowen Street Hospital. About five o’clock flames were discovered leaping along the passages, and 30 women occupying the building made a hurried exit, several having to jump from windows on the first floor. The injured were:— Sister M. Forbes-Kerr, both arms broken, foot fractured, slight injuries to back. Her home is in the Bay of Plenty. Mrs Troupe, burns. Miss Jean Strang, abrasions to face and hands. Miss Shiela O’Sullivan, injury to Miss Jean Dobson, injury to back. Miss Rona Webb, scorched hands and face. Mrs Amyss, slight injury to ankle. Sister Forbes-Kerr jumped from her bedroom window on to a gravel path. Although there were so many people sleeping on the premises the outbreak was not discovered until the passage ways and the main staircase were alight. Those who opened their bedroom doors faced a solid mass of flames which was sweeping rapidly through the wooden building. More than half those sleeping in the building occupied rooms on the first floor and when they found it was impossible to use the main stairway as an exit many congregated on a low verandah from which they jumped to safety. When the fire brigade arrived everyone was out of the building. High pressure leads were brought into action and although the fire had a very strong hold it was soon under control. So effective were the efforts of the brigade that the outside of the building shows but little sign of damage. However, the greater part of the interior is badly gutted. The fire appears to have started in the boiler room at the back of the building.