Story: Fires and fire services

Sprott House fire

Sprott House fire

A fire at Sprott House rest home in Wellington in 1969 nearly gutted the building, as shown here. Thirteen of the residents, all elderly women, were rescued, but seven died. This disaster led to a tightening of regulations requiring sprinklers, automatic alarms and evacuation schemes in institutions such as rest homes and hospitals.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference: Gavin Mclean, Fires & Firefighting. Wellington: Grantham House, 1992, p.114

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Fires and fire services - Towards a national fire service', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/21877/sprott-house-fire (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 11 Mar 2010