At 10:46 am on the 3rd of February 1931, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the New Zealand town of Napier on the East Coast of the North Island. Soon after, fires broke out due to Chemist shops having volatile chemicals in close proximity to gas flames.

The constant aftershocks broke the water pipes and soon, there was no water to fight the fires.

Planks were put down over the shingle beach to try to pump seawater but the shingle soon blocked the pumps. The town had to be left to burn.

This is one of the fire engines unable to save Napier. It was on display with other vintage fire engines as part of the 150 year jubilee of the Napier Fire Brigade today.

On display at The Napier (New Zealand) Fire Brigade 150 years jubilee.