TRAPPED BY FIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 242, 13 October 1931, Page 10

TRAPPED BY FIRE

THRILLS ON BLAZING PIER MANY DANCERS IN PERIL ALL RESCUER BY BOATS. Dancers trapped by a fire on the pier at Penarth, near Cardiff, on a night in August, were rescued by boats Tho only mishap was when one of the boats was being launched from the shore. It capsized in the heavy seas and the occupants had to swim ashore, but the boat was recovered and relaunched. When the fire broke out in the dance hall tne pier was crowded with people, and there were over 200 dancers in the hall. When the alarm was raised the majority of the people rushed to the exit and escaped without injury. About 40, however, made their way to the end of the pier and were cut off by the flames. Members of the Penarth Yacht Club quickly took boats to the rescue, and a Cardiff pilot cutter also rushed to the scene, and the trapped people were all taken off. In the meantime the fire spread rapidly, and before it was got under ’control the pier and the buildings there were destroyed, only the shore end, which is built of concrete, escaping. Huge baulks of blazing tim ber broke away and could be seen still burning in the sea half a mile a-.vay. The damage was estimated at £20,000. About 800 People on the Pier. The pierinaster said there were about 800 people on the pier at the time, aud as soon as the alarm was given the pier officials asked everyone to move as quickly as they could towards the shore. Fortunately none of the people lost their heads, and although the whole pier was ablaze in a few minutes most of the people reached the shore in safety. Some of the dancers ran the wrong way and so were marooned on the pierhead. The fire broke out at 9 p.m., and was under control at 11 p.m. The pier head is of cement, and except for the heat, which soon became very fierce, the people were in no danger while the boats went to their rescue. “As far as we have been able to examine the wreckage there is no sign of anyone having been trapped,” said an official. “We think that the fire was caused by a cigarette-end falling between the timber, being fanned in to a blaze by the fierce wind.” “The pier itself, which is 700 ft. in length, blazed furiously. Flames leaped to a height of 20ft. or 30ft., ana lighted up the sea for miles around. A gale fanned the flames. It was an amazing sight to see the wooden structure changed into a blazing mass in so short a time. But for the orderly way in which the people left the pier hundreds might have been trapped in the flames. The fire spread so quickly that we feared some might have been caught, but no one has been reported missing. ’ ’ Hundreds of people watched the firemen attacking the flames. The pier was put out of action as far as shipping was concerned. Screams of “Fire.” The dangers were taking part in a gala dance and were wearing coloured caps and favours when there were screams of “fire” from a number of dancers. Flames were seen shooting up through the floor in the middle of the hall. Those nearest the door rushed out, and the alarm was taken up outside the hall. There was a concerted rush to the pier exit. Meanwhile about fifty people had been cut off by the flames which quickly spread all over the floor. Luckily the glare from the windows had been seen by members of the Penarth Yacht Club who were in their clubroom on the Esplanade a few yards from the pier. Under the direction of Commander R. S. Back six boats were manned, and after a tussle with the heavy seas they reached the pier pavilion. Fortunately there was accommodation for all the marooned dangers and members of the band in the boats, and it was only a matter of minutes before they were taken off the pier. One man broke a window in order to get out of the pavilion. One of the dancers said:— “For five terrible minutes we thought we would have to choose between being burned to death or trust- , ing ourselves to the angry.seas which were running. It is impossible to describe our relief when we saw the boats being put out from the shore. Everybody behaved splendid y. There were many women in the party and yet there was not a trace of panic. Some of the dancers were rescued by the pilot boat. The flames spread with alarming suddenness, and we had not even time to rescue our coats and belongings. The members of the band lost all their instruments. Firemen’s Narrow Escapes. “An cast wind blew right down the pier and carried the flames tho whole length. The firemen were helpless; they did their best from the Esplanade, but it was impossible for them to get near enough to the pavilion to check the flames. All that was left standing after the blflze were the iron struts of the pier and a short portion of the wooden super-structure, together with the new concrete pavilion at the Esplanade end of tho pier. “The fire could be seen for miles, and blazing pieces of wood were carried along by the water. There was a blaze and a shower of sparks as portions of the structure fell into the water. We were none the worse for our adventure.” Firemen had narrow escapes. Three or four men were playing a hose on a part of the pier when it suddenly collapsed just in front of them, but, they were able to jump clear. It is stated that several people who were waiting to be taken off the. end of the pier sustained slight burns from sparks blown in their direction. Some girl dancers suffered considerably from shock, but. after medical attention were able to return home.