Worst Fire for Seven Years

About $50,000 worth of damage was caused by Nelson's worst fire for seven years, recently. Two shops, Keith Lummis Ltd and Specialty Carpets, were destroyed in the fierce blaze in the commercial area of Hardy Street.

Prompt and efficient action by the Nelson Fire Brigade saved nearby shops from destruction. One wall of the adjoining premises, Chesterfield House, was damaged but, thanks to swift work by a group of people, no stock was destroyed.

The alarm was given at 10.57 p.m. on July 12 by a passerby, who saw Lummis's on fire. Firemen arrived quickly and, realising the two shops alight could not be saved, concentrated their efforts on saving adjoining premises.

No cause for the fire was found. Because of the extensive damage it was not possible to determine or even accurately guess the cause of the blaze, the Chief Fire Officer, Mr Paul McQuillan, said.

Firemen move onto the awnings of Specialty Carpets and Keith Lummis Ltd to stem the inferno within the shops. The buildings, owned by Graeme Lummis, were insured for about $30,000 and about $20,000 worth of furniture and carpets were lost

Prompt action by members of the public saved the stock from Chesterfield House

Chief Fire Officer Paul McQuillan supervises the manning of a hose from the rear of the buildings. Directing the hose are Station Officer Hec Gill, an unidentified helper, and firemen Eric Davidson and Andrew Wills

To release dense smoke from Chesterfield House, Senior Station Officer Keith Wells and Eric Walker smash a hole through the ceiling

A tongue of flame licks through the roof of Specialty Carpets as firemen hurry to extinguish it

The fire attracted a large crowd and this group was quick to grab a vantage spot on the opposite side of Hardy Street

And after it was over, only blackened remains indicated what had once been fine furniture and rich carpets

This is the top floor of Chesterfield House. Firemen did a magnificent Job to prevent the fire spreading through the building. But it was pretty close!

Charred timbers and twisted sheets of iron testify to the ferocity of the inferno which raged through the shops. At the left, virtually unscathed, is the fire wall between the destroyed buildings and the premises of T. Stewart and Sons. Moral: Fire walls are worth it

During the fire, Chief Fire Officer McQuillan was on the ball in the public relations field. After the worst of the fire was over, he conducted reporters on a tour of inspection. Here, he gives details to "Mail" reporter Mark Stanton, and Andy Gregory (obscured) of 2Zn, on the rear roof of Chesterfield House

Not a very pleasant task for Keith Lummis (left), who had to pick his way through the ruins, trying to identify what was once fine stock. On the right is insurance assessor Clem Paterson

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The Nelson Photo News

No 142 : August 19, 1972

Worst Fire for Seven Years