Fire Brigade & Fires

Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

Torrington and Bideford firemen were occupied for about two hours

on Sunday evening in dealing with a fire in woodland and thick undergrowth on a steep hillside near Riverdale, Weare Giffard.

Approximately 10 acres were damaged.

Fanned by a wind, the fire blazed intensely for a while, but fortunately did not spread in the path of houses.

The main Bideford-Torrington road provided a grandstand view for many people.

The smoke could be seen rising from the river valley from high points a long way round.

Using beaters and hosereels coupled to water tanks refilled from the public mains the firemen quelled the outbreak after some strenuous work uphill.

Quite a number of wild rabbits fled from the fire.

Gazette article dated 14 July 1961

Mr Trick retires

Part-Time Fire Fighter For 23 Years

A man who was ‘badgered’ into joining the Fire Service when he returned from the war is retiring on reaching the age limit after 23 years, during the last eight of which he has been station officer at Bideford.

He is Mr Tom Trick, deputy foreman-storekeeper in the Borough Surveyor’s department.

Presentations were made to him on Friday at a commemorative dinner at the New Inn Hotel, Bideford, the scene in 1968 of one of a number of big fires that he has helped to fight.

A Bidefordian, Mr Trick has had no other interest outside his home apart from his job – he has worked for the Council for about 15 years – and the Fire Service. His involvement seemed inevitable for a former employer, Mr F Tithecott, was station officer before him.

The presentations were made by Chief Fire Officer W M H Drake and took the form of a 400-day clock from Mr Trick’s past and present colleagues at the station, a tea-making set from sub-officers of the division and officers of the brigade; and a cheque.

Other speakers were Divisional Officer L E Orgar and the Mayor, Cllr Clarrie Metherell, who thanked him on behalf of the borough.

The full article is dated February 6 1970

Club Damaged By Midnight Fire

Damage estimated at around the £500 mark

was caused by fire at the South Western Electricity Board’s social club in Lower Gunstone, Bideford, just after midnight on Sunday.

Two appliances from Bideford were called and prevented the blaze from spreading in a confined area.

Damage included to a false roof and to walls and woodwork surrounding door frames.

The fire was discovered by Mr and Mrs L J Darke, licensees of the Heavitree Inn, which adjoins the club.

While watching television Mrs Darke smelt burning but a search of the premises revealed nothing. Mr Darke then went into the street and raised the alarm on seeing smoke coming from under the eaves of the club roof where the outbreak is believed to have originated. A police spokesman said ‘This could have been a serious fire if it had not been spotted when it was’.

Gazette article dated 15 December 1972