Fire broke out about 3a.m. on Sunday last in a barn on the farm occupied by Mr. J. Knight, High-street South, Rushden, presumably caused by a tramp. A passing motorist noticed the flames, and called up Hon. Second-Officer G. R. Turner, who was quickly on the scene. The motorist then drove to the Fire Station, and the Brigade were at the fire within four minutes.

A strong wind blew burning rubbish towards the picturesque old thatched cottage occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Lewis’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elliott (aged 83 and 80 respectively). With Mr. and Mrs. Elliott was staying another daughter, Miss K. Elliott (aged 50) a stranger to Rushden on holiday.

Miss Elliott, seeing the danger to the occupants of the house, got her parents across the road to safety, and on returning, got too near the edge of the high pavement in the darkness and fell down into the road. Her right ankle was fractured and dislocated and the left was badly sprained. Two policemen rendered first aid, putting the limb in temporary splints and conveying the injured lady indoors. Meantime Dr. Greenfield was called, and attended in a few minutes. He sent for Dr. Davies, and the two doctors set the broken ankle.

The Fire Brigade were able to subdue the fire and confine it to the barn and contents. A large quantity of hay and chaff, and a root-pulper, a chaff-cutting machine and a grass-mowing machine were destroyed or damaged. The Brigade stayed until 7.30a.m., when the premises were considered safe.

The first members of the Rushden Fire brigade to arrive from the Fire Station were Second-Officer W. Packwood, Firemen Whiting and Payne, who took the hose cart, several lengths of hose, and two jets. Fireman Whiting was almost exhausted with the exertion of running all the way with the heavy truck. Other firemen, who were all quickly on the scene, were Engineer C. Green, Firemen Britchford, Jaques, Timpson, Bayes, Smith, and Sparrow.

It is greatly to the credit of the Brigade that stacks of oats and hay between the burning building and the National Schools were prevented from catching fire. Two very powerful jets of water from the main soon extinguished the fire, and although the horses were sent for to convey the Steamer, by the time they arrived they were not required.