The blaze, at the leather components firm of George Bull in Moor Road, broke out at about 1.50. People living near the factory, which employs 60, were evacuated when police feared the gable end of the building might collapse.

'Roof Fell On Us’

FIREMAN Norman Hales, aged 27, of 53 Blackfriars, Rushden, told how close he and another fireman came to being buried under the blazing rooftop as it collapsed. He said: "Peter Neal and myself went into the top floor with two blokes from Wellingborough. We were just getting another line of hose when part of the roof collapsed. "There was a big bang. It just caved in on top of us. Everything went red with flames. "We turned round the way we came but the flames caught my hands and the side of my face. As soon as I got out they called for an ambulance and I was taken to Kettering General Hospital." Fireman Neal said: 'Norman was in front of me when we turned to go. He acted as a shield. He cooped the lot. The flames didn't touch me."

Norman Hales relaxing at his home this morning

This morning the top floor of the building was a charred wreck and Moor Road was littered with burned beams, bricks and debris.

Later today, Mr. Peter Trott, the firm's production director, spoke about the building's new fire alarm system which had been installed but not wired up to local fire stations.

"There is an alarm here and one direct to Kettering and Rushden fire stations. The direct alarms did not work," he said.

"We have been asking the Post Office to connect it up for the last two months that I know of.

"Apparently there were some parts the Post Office could not get. We are a bit sore about it."

He added the Post Office had been to the scene of the fire this morning to reconnect the phones — but not the fire alarm.

Damage

After looking at the damage he said: "The top floor is an absolute write-off. We will have to try to find alternative accommodation for the top floor employees. About a third of the 60 employees work there. "I hope 40 people will be working tomorrow when we hope to get back into some sort of production. Offers of help have poured in from local manufacturers — a dozen at least — and we much I appreciate it," said Mr Trott. Many workers arrived for work this morning and helped to clear out the factory.

Clearing up operations begin among the charred wreckage of part of the leather components factory of George Bull after this morning's fire.

A spokesman for the fire brigade said that a check just after 6 am showed that the whole of the second storey and the contents of the boot and shoe components factory had been severely damaged by fire. Two-thirds of the roof had gone and about a fifth of the first floor and contents had been damaged by fire.

About 40 firemen with six water tenders and a turntable fought the fire. Operations were personally directed by Mr. N. C. Mountford, county fire chief, and his deputy, Mr. J. Warden.

By 11.30 this morning managing director Mr. Arthur Jones had reorganised production.

The firm have managed to get alternative accommodation and will be back in production by Monday.

"The ground floor, which received only slight damage, will be working tomorrow. Most of the leather is on the ground floor. It is the preparation room which has been destroyed.

"A mammoth operation will be carried out getting the spoilt machinery replaced and new ones installed in the CWS Footwear factory in Rectory Road. We shall be back in business on Monday."

Mr Ken Goodwin, area public relations officer for the Post Office, and based at Coventry, spoke this morning about the installation procedure for fire alarms.

He said the Post Office's only responsibility was for the wiring from the factory to the fire station and for the connection points at either end.

"I know that the actual line was fitted on May 14th, 1969. At the request of the fire authorities it was disconnected in the telephone exchange at Rushden, pending the provision of fire alarm equipment by a private fire alarm company.

"Five weeks ago we were asked to restore the line to working condition, and this was done. It was left working and ready for connection five weeks ago."

A Post Office engineer was at the fire station this morning trying to confirm that the private fire alarm equipment was provided and to ascertain if it was connected to the Post Office line.

Said Mr. Goodwin: "It has been confirmed that the fire alarm equipment was not connected to the Post Office line. And this, of course, is our responsibility."