Water from the Rushden Swimming Baths was used to control an outbreak of fir prior to the arrival of the Fire Brigade when a blaze occurred on the afternoon of December 10.
The scene of the fire was the workshop attached to the shop belonging to Mr E Leeding, a boot and shoe retailer, of Station-road, Rushden.
Towards the end of the afternoon Mr I M Williams, who lives nearby, saw smoke coming from the rear of Mr Leeding’s shop and immediately summoned the N.F.S.
In the meantime passers-by had noticed there was something wrong and news of the incident reached an adjacent factory belonging to Messrs George Wilson Ltd.
The auxiliary motor pump which belongs to the factory was quickly brought into use drawing its water from the “static pool” formed by the swimming baths as short distance away. This prompt action prevented the fire from reaching more serious proportions before the arrival of the official brigade.
After the N.F.S. had arrived the fire was quickly quelled. Much damage was done to the shoe repair department.
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