This (Friday) afternoon an alarming fire broke out at Higham Ferrers. It appears that Miss Parker, who was in charge of the lock-up shop of Mr. G. Hall, draper, had been burning some rubbish. Thinking it had all burnt out she locked up the shop and went to dinner as usual. At about 12.40 flames were noticed in the shop, and at once an alarm was raised. The Fire Brigade were called by the usual rocket signal, and the whole of the members—except Captain F. J. Simpson, who was out of town—turned up very smartly.

Meantime Mr. Jarvis, butcher, broke open the glass panel of the shop door and effected an entrance. The contents of the shop were found to be in flames. Buckets of water were used by the firemen and the fire was speedily got under.

The whole of the contents of the shop are practically ruined. The goods in the window were scorched, and the articles which were not burnt were damaged by the water.

There was fortunately no current of air in the shop or the flames must have been fanned thereby.

Had the fire not been noticed just in time the conflagration must have been a very serious one.