WHERE THERE'S SMOKE: The Fire That Changed The Law by Lyn McConchie and Linnette Horne

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This has just been published by Heritage Press in Palmerston North. It's a study of four fires that occurred in Wellington between 1967 and 1971, the worst of which resulted in major changes and upgrades to the National Fire safety Regulations for hostels, boarding houses and rest homes. But it's also a really in-depth look at that main fire - Sprott House, which burned down in July 1969 with the loss of 7 lives.
One of the authors worked there at the time and it's her opinion still that far from 'misadventure' as it was brought in by the coroner, it was arson and murder - or manslaughter depending on the reason for the fire. She even had minor proof, and a very believable theory. her suggestion at the time (to an investigator) that the fire could have been arson, was brushed off with the comment "who'd want to kill a bunch of old ladies?". I guess as time's gone by a lot more of us could answer a question like that.
She explains why at the time the fire was believed to be an accident, and why those reasons weren't valid, particularly in the light of other more recent fires. She says that she wrote the book hoping it would get the original Sprott House case reopened because it's her belief that the seven women who died in the fire never had justice.
Read the book and see if you agree she's right. And if you do, if you know any of the relatives of those who died, urge them to read the book too and maybe do something about it.

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