Fire at Fred Brown's Factory

THE FIRE AT RUSHDEN

The members of the Rushden Fire Brigade are to be heartily complimented on the very able way in which they coped with the outbreak at the factory occupied by Mr. F. Brown at Rushden, but we desire to call the careful attention of the powers that be to the serious lack of means by which the members of the brigade can be called together.  The firemen live in different parts of the town, some of them more than a mile away from the others, and there is a fearful and totally unnecessary waste of time in sending messengers to the houses of members of the brigade.  Electric calls have been provided in many town of less size than Rushden, and here, where there are so many factories filled with valuable and inflammable goods, it is of the utmost urgency that more expeditious means should be adopted without delay for notifying an outbreak to the firemen.  An electric call or telephonic communication would save at least five or ten minutes at every alarm, and the cost would probably be saved the very first time the call was used by enabling the firemen to get earlier on to the scene of the conflagration.  The minutes which are now lost might make all the difference between saving a factory and not saving it, and in any case the brigade would gain a great advantage in getting to the spot before the crowd assemble to hamper their operations.

FACTORY FIRE AT RUSHDEN

 Of late years the occasions on which the fire bell has been rung in Rushden and the firemen called out to deal with a serious outbreak have, happily, been few and far between. On Tuesday night, however, a fire, which has resulted in a good deal of damage, broke out at the factory in Rectory-road occupied by Mr. Fred Brown, shoe manufacturer, and owned by Mr. Franklin, builder. The outbreak was discovered between 6.30 and 6.45 p.m. and occurred in the packing-room on the second floor. In this room there was a quantity of paper and the room was soon in flames, the matchboarding and beams blazing furiously.  It looked, at first sight, as if the whole building must be gutted, but that fear did not prevent efforts to avert such a disaster.  Accordingly, as soon as the outbreak was discovered, an alarm was given, and while some went to summon the fire-brigade, others went for the police and yet others held themselves ready to act as a salvage corps.  P. S. Birrill, accompanied by P. C. Searle, was on the spot within a minute or so and P. C.’s Riseley and Wallis were also quickly in attendance, P. C. Bocock having meanwhile gone for the hose-cart.  P. C. Searle rang the church bell, and Rectory-road was speedily filled with spectators from Queen-street to beyond the factory.  Before the arrival of the fire-brigade, the doors of the factory were opened and in a very few minutes a large quantity of stock consisting of leather and boots had been removed, there being no lack of willing helpers.  Under the direction of the police-sargeant and the constables, who kept back the crowd from the immediate vicinity of the building, this work was carried out in orderly fashion and a good deal of damage was doubtless in this way prevented.  On the arrival of the fire-brigade under Capt. F. Knight, a hose was quickly attached to a hydrant in the roadway and run up to the side of the factory facing the Rectory.  A window was then broken and, there being a good pressure of water, a plentiful supply of water was poured into the burning rooms.  The same process was carried out on the other side of the factory and very soon the fire, under the cooling influence of the water, began to abate its intensity.  Then the firemen opened the door through which the goods are taken in and were able to direct the hose with such precision that by a quarter to eight, rather less than an hour after the alarm was given, the fire had been completely mastered. Had it not been for the work of the brigade there is little doubt that the place would have been burnt down, for an attempt to reach the burning room before their arrival was frustrated by the dense smoke and intense heat.  After the firemen got to work, however, there was never any doubt as to the result, an enormous quantity of water being poured into the building.

The sketch from the newspaper

As it was, the damage done to both building and stock was extensive.  An inspection of the packing-room showed that the matchboarding had been completely burnt away and the beams and other woodwork had been seriously damaged, the damage to the building alone being estimated at  £100.  The stock and machinery, especially in the basement, have also suffered through fire and water to the extent of some hundred of pounds, but we are informed that both the building and its contents were insured.  The origin of the outbreak is unknown.  The men had not long left the factory, which it is stated was left at half past six with everything apparently safe.  A quarter-of-an-hour later the flames had burst out.  The building is a new one, having been  erected about two years, and consists of three floors.   The top floor was used as a clicking-room and leather-room, and here the contents were only slightly damaged by smoke, etc.  The middle floor was used as office, shoe-room, packing-room, etc., and here very little escaped either fire or water.  The bottom floor was divided up into press-room, rivetting shop, and rough leather store, and though a lot of the stock was removed considerable damage was done by water.

THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE FIRE

At the meeting of the Urban Council on Wednesday the following report of the fire was sent in by Mr. G. R. Turner (secretary of the brigade) :- The full brigade of 12 officers and men attended, and extinguished the fire by the aid of two stand-pipes and 15 lengths of hose.  Damage :  Partition 6 ft. by 9 ft. high, burnt through; 7 to 9 joists partly burnt;  floor partly burnt and about 20 panes of glass broken.  The water supply was good.”  Mr. Wilkins said that the report did not state what time the call was given and what time the brigade arrived.  This was always done in the London firemen’s reports.

Mr. Knight said that the London firemen were paid and were obliged to send in a report.  It was not so at Rushden.  It was only out of compliment that they sent in the report at all.  Mr. Denton said he had had a conversation with Mr. Turner (secretary of the brigade), who told him it would facilitate matters greatly if the firemen could be put into communication with each other.  On Tuesday night 15 or 20 minutes elapsed before all the firemen were notified of the outbreak.  Mr. Turner was anxious that the firemen should be put into telephonic communication with each other.  Mr. Wilkins said that a question of this importance should not come before the Council in this informal way.  Mr. Swindall considered that a fire escape was very necessary in Rushden.  Mr. Brawn said he could speak of the admirable manner in which the members of the brigade did their duty.  (Hear, hear.) 

Note: This factory stood where the Co-op Wholesale Shoe Factory was built on the corner of Rectory Road & Portland Road.