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Christchurch Inferno

© Philippa Jane Ballantine

In twentieth century New Zealand there were more people, and better communication. So when disasters struck, they were better reported and better handled. Or so one would hope, but on 18 November 1947 the disaster that occurred would be quite literally burned into New Zealand's history and psyche. In Christchurch, it was just another day of shopping and business. Trams clanged along streets filled with cars and pedestrians. In Columbo Street the icon department store Ballantynes the tills were ticking over, and in the three storey building the close to 300 employees were undoubtedly looking forward to the end of another working day.

Tragically many of them would never leave the shop. At about quarter to four chaos erupted as smoke suddenly burst from the windows, and was rapidly followed by flames. Shocked onlookers gathered as the store that had been a landmark for so long in Christchurch became an inferno.

It could only get worse, shopgirls trapped in the top storey could be seen at the windows now, waving frantically and screaming for help. They were images that those witnesses would never forget.

Even as firemen arrived, the entire building was engulfed, and would be totally gutted within only half an hour. Firemen struggled to get ladders up to the girls, but the smoke and the heat were intense. Spectators could only watch, and give what aid they could to those who took their chances and climbed or leapt from the burning store. Others were seen like heart-wrenching ghosts at the windows, only to fall back into the flame.

Kenneth Ballantyne himself was trapped on the third floor. He tried to save two girls, but ended up hanging grimly onto the stone parapet of the window. Firemen tried to get a ladder up to him, but it was too short. They played their hoses across him to give some relief against the terrible heat. A second ladder was found and Mr. Ballantyne rescued just in the nick of time.

The whole scene was too much for the bystanders, women wailed and men turned away in horror. Many were anxious and terrified for friends and relatives they knew to be in the building. Some valiant citizens like Mr. Davis tried to save victims from the flames. He leapt on a ladder and scrambled up to the second storey tearooms, managing to save two. But the firemen afraid of losing more civilians restrained him from going back in again. Firemen battled, but could do little in such intense heart.