In a town of wooden buildings fires were common and the first fires were fought by bucket brigades. In 1881 a fire tower with a bell was built next to the Court House so that the brigade could be assembled faster. In 1920 a Volunteer Fire Brigade was established, but with no town water supply its appliance was an old hand drawn chemical unit. When the water supply arrived in 1923, a Ford Model T Fire Engine became the Brigade's pride and joy. This did not mean the end of fires but their effects were certainly reduced.
Whytes Hotel was established in 1876. He had earlier been licensee at what is now the Manawatu Hotel. Although Whytes escaped the 1912 fire it was destroyed by another in 1919 [actually 1918], along with some of the rebuilt Moutoa Buildings next to it. During the hotel's rebuilding the owner renamed it Easton's Hotel and included that on the front wall. But locals did not take to this and the facade that is left is still referred to as that of Whyte's Hotel.
One outcome of the many fires in the commercial area was the passing of a bylaw that delineated the central part of the town as a brick building precinct. This explains why so few wooden buildings exist in the Main Street business area.
