South Yorkshire Times, April 28, 1951
Water Relay Was Set Up For Conisbro Parks Fire
For nearly two hours on Tuesday evening the main farm buildings of Parks Farm, Conisbrough, were in danger from fire, firemen froth from Mexborough and Conisbrough fighting to prevent, the flames spreading from a Dutch barn to the buildings only a few yards away.
The fire started in a haystack and flames spread quickly to three neighbouring stacks and the barn containing about 15 tons of new potatoes, tillage, wheat, oats and hay.
The occupant of the farm, Mr. Richard Harrison, sent his nephew, Mr. H. Collins, to Conisbrough by car, white, unknown to Mr. Harrison, a neighbour, Mr. A. Beeve, living half a mile away, at Lodge Farm, had telephoned Conisbrough Fire Station that Parks Farm had a fire which he could see very plainly.
Shortage of water was a major problem and while water was drawn from an underground well, an urgent message was sent by Divisional-Officer H. Howard to Mexborough H.Q. for more water tenders, which came from Goldthorpe and Maltby. They joined with another tender and ran relays to the Sheffield Road, a mile away, thus giving a constant supply of water, while half a mile of hose was laid to the village of Clifton further to increase the supply.
Though the fire was under control by 6-30 p.m, on Tuesday evening, watches were set up for the night and for the following day in case of a further outbreak.
On Wednesday smoke and occasional flames were still rising from the burned out stacks, and the floor of the buckled structure of the Dutch barn was covered with burned and roasted potatoes.