Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Thursday 23 February 1922, page 8


COUNTRY FIRES.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

Nungarin, Feb. 15.

The most disastrous fire known on the Eastern wheat belt occurred on Tuesday

night, when the large store of Messrs. Thomas and Thick, including the post office branch premises and the manager's residence of the Nungarin Farmers' Co-operative Society were completely de-stroyed. The conflagration was first noticed at 9 o'clock in Thomas and Thick's store and had by that time gained a considerable hold. In the ab sence of water pressure nothing could be done except salvage work and speed-ily the flames consumed the building and gained a hold on the co-operative manager's residence alongside, from where it enveloped the Co-operative pre-mises. Frantic efforts on the part of many helpers prevented the lire spread-ing to Mr. Thick's house from where it would have burnt thc butcher's shop and billiard room. The total damage is esti-mated to be about £12,000. Insur-ance will cover £3,000 for the Co-operalive premises and £2,000 for Thomas

and Thick's.

The origin of thc outbreak is unknown. Messrs. Thomas and Thick are erecting temporary premises, while the Co-opera-tive Society will utilise the Nungarin Hall. The post office branch will re-sume duty to-morrow in the station buildings, and telephone communication

will bc resumed.