FIRE DESTROYS BLOCK AT THE TRENTHAM MILITARY CAMP

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 December 1950, Page 4

FIRE DESTROYS BLOCK AT THE TRENTHAM MILITARY CAMP

WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA).— Fire razed most of a social amenities block at Trentham camp just before mid-day today. Valued at about £30.000 and built of wood, it was used by 200 single men of the Post and Telegraph Department. The block contained a dining room, kitchen, canteen, billiardicmu recreational hall, store room and caterers’ accommodation.

Tank s in the destroyed dining room had been set for the men’s evening meal so tonight the men shared the Public Works Department kitchen and dining room nearby. They will continue to de sc until January 8 by when a temporary building is expected tj be ccmpleteu. Sweating in the mid-day heat men from the Upper Hutt and Silverstream fire Brigades worked hard to confine the blaze to the one building. They used nine leads of hose for nearly two hours. Smcke from the fire could be s?en from Lower Hutt. Fortunately tile strong westerly wind was away from the transit houses nearby of 148 fam.lies. The fire is thought to have begun near the kitchen, and spread to drums of oil. Hundreds of thousands of cigarettes were shout the only goods saved. The building was 36 years old. and has caught fire three times before.