LYTTELTON'S FATAL FIRE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14768, 6 October 1921, Page 5

LYTTELTON'S FATAL FIRE

INQUEST ON THE VICTIMS,

(By Telecraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHUBCH, Wednesday.

An inquest was held at Lyttelton concerning the deaths of Olivine and Maida Dodds, the victims of the recent fatal fire.

Evidence was given that the children were put to bed at 7.30 p.m. The father and mother went out, leaving the house in charge of a son aged 13 and a companion of similar age. The boy discovered the fire in the pr'essing-ro',m attached to his father's workshop, and attempted to ascend the stairs to rescue his sisters, but fell through the staircase, under which the fire was blazing. The brigade was hampered in its efforts lo effect a rescue by a s lass verandah, and was also wrongly directed as lo the room occupied bjr ihe children.

The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, expressing the opinion thai Dodds, junr., and the brigade had done everything possible. Glass verandahs should be prohibited by statute, and every two-storey building should .\ave a fire-escape.