Story: Fires and fire services

Ballantynes fire

Ballantynes department store in Christchurch was destroyed by fire on 18 November 1947. Forty-one people died in the blaze. Click to see how the fire spread through the store, trapping workers on the upper floors.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Fires and fire services - Fires in the 1940s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/diagram-interactive/21873/ballantynes-fire (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 11 Mar 2010