Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 14 June 1924
The Denaby Fire – Lessons to be Learnt
One would have to go back many years to find a fire which was as serious, or which brought so many calamitous results in its train, as the one which devastated Strafford Terrace in the early hours of Saturday morning. At least three shops were gutted completely, whilst as many more were more or less seriously damaged. In addition to the large stocks of merchandise which were lost, quite a number of persons were rendered homeless when the flames had done their fell work. Indeed, it is something of a miracle that no lives were lost. To gaze on the ruins, which rise like grim reminders of “Overseas,” one wonders why the fire was not discovered sooner by the inhabitants, and when one sees the extent of the damage one realises how difficult must be the location of the origin of the conflagration.
The outbreak was discovered at about one o’clock in the morning by Mr. N. V. Sinclair, who, with commendable promptitude, dashed off to the Cadeby Enquiry Office to get the fire syrens going. Telephone messages to Conisborough soon had the fire bell going and the brigade captain’s car at the station to transport the fire-fighting appliances. Despite the fact that the syrens seemed to lack their usual intensity of sound (many residents never heard them at all, and those few in Conisborough who did averred that they were faint), Sgt. Downing and Firemen Ledger and Bell were quickly on their way to Denaby, effecting a very quick turn-out. Now it has been mentioned in some papers that the Mexborough Brigade was first on the scene. I feel that this erroneous impression should be corrected, for much as the local brigades appreciate each other’s help, they like the reports to appear in their true perspective, and those firemen who appeared first on the scene naturally like the credit for their appearance. The firemen mentioned were followed immediately by Sgt. Walker and the Surveyor, Mr. H. Thirlwall. The captain, Mr. R. J. Clarkson, was away at Whitehaven.
On the arrival of these Conisborough firemen they found that the private brigade from the Denaby Main Hotel was present, but it could not do much good, as it was losing water through lack of washers in its connections. The Conisborough Brigade was delayed getting into action on its arrival on account of the difference in the hydrants in Conisborough and Denaby, and the Denaby section of the brigade had to fetch up its standpipes. In Old Conisborough the hydrants are of screw pattern, with ordinary keys for turning on the water. Denaby is fitted with ball hydrants, and in this case the stand-pipe is affixed, then a plunger pushes the ball down to allow the passage of the water. At any rate, when the Mexborough Brigade arrived Conisborough had three jets playing on the flames.
The losses to the owners and tenants will run into thousands, and one hears that “damaged goods” were nothing like entirely covered. Thousands of people collected from the vicinity, and one must regret the looting which took place, though fortunately the police were able to cope with the situation. Our Surveyor remained on the spot until five o’clock, by which time all danger was past, and with him came back some of the firemen wet through, and thoroughly done up as a result of their tremendous struggle against heavy odds, for though much damage was done, a good deal more was averted.
And now for the lessons of the calamity. Either the hydrants of Conisborough and Denaby should be standardised or both sections of the fire brigade should carry both sets of hydrants. As our commitments are already rather heavy, perhaps the latter would be the more economical course, though I think that the Conisborough pattern is a long way before the Denaby pattern for efficiency.
Another question. Is our fire engine adequate? Many of us think not. On this occasion it was not used, the appliances being conveyed in the captain’s car. Although we are in front of Mexborough in population, we are behind them in the matter of fire engines, and they are a long way from being in the front flight with their engine.
Fire engines of the newest type are very expensive items, but the Council should very carefully consider the replacement of our antiquated apparatus. I saw a fire in a large block of buildings in a town not very far from here given its quietus a short time ago by means of the water carried in a large tank on a new type of engine. There was no coupling up, a prompt alarm, the engine dashed up, a fireman ran into the building with the nozzle in his hand, the hose trailed after him from a windlass, and the fire was put out without having to resort to the town mains. It is an engine like that we want, so that we can feel more secure in our abodes. It would cost us a slight increase in the rates, but surely it would be worth it.