70 years since fire ravaged Christchurch's Ballantynes department storePRESS FILES On November 18, 1947, the central Christchurch department store Ballantynes caught fire and 41 people died in one of New Zealand's worst fires. ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY Funerals are held for the victims of the Ballantynes Department Store fire at Ruru Lawn Cemetery in Christchurch. But in the space of an hour on that afternoon 70 years ago, an out-of-control fire had ravaged the iconic three-storey department store and 41 people were dead. The fire powered its way through the popular store in 20 minutes and reporters from The Press described the situation as a "hopeless inferno". Today - 18 November - is the 70th anniversary of the Ballantynes' Fire, a tragic Christchurch event.

Source: Stuff November 18, 2017 23:37 UTC