Fire Brigade & Fires

Before 1870

by Tony Morris

No injuries

February 1965

Saw local service develop

11 April 1963

Near Riverdale

14 July 1961

Presentation gifts from friends and colleagues

February 1970

Two appliances assisted

15 December 1972

New Fire Engine 1938

Decision to Purchase

New Fire Engine Christened 'Kipling' 1938

For Bideford and District

Bideford District's Joint Fire Brigade 1940

'Kipling' fire engine

Bideford Boy's Death 1940

Collision with Fire Engine

New Fire and Ambulance Stations 1965

Bideford's new stations in Old Town

High Street Fire Damage of £20,000 1963

Merediths shop

Most modern in the county

25 March 1960

Anthony Morris

17 December 1971

Mr Conibear reminds the Council

2 July 1971

New Fire Station Officially Opened at Appledore 1968

cost £13,000

Local fire and ambulance workers thanked 22 July 1966

Mayor of Bideford 22 July 1966

Before 1870
by Tony Morris

Part 1 – before 1870

The early days

With cooking, heating, and lighting all requiring the use of naked flames, the risk of fire was always ever present. Despite the significant danger to lives and property, there was no requirement for any public body to provide a fire brigade. Other Devon towns suffered some catastrophic fires, including Tiverton where 600 houses were destroyed by fire in 1612, and another 298 houses were destroyed in 1731. 450 houses were destroyed at Crediton in 1743, and 180 houses at Honiton in 1765. Thankfully, Bideford was spared that scale of devastation.

In the early days, if your home or business caught fire, then you were largely dependent on your own efforts to put the fire out. Neighbours and passersby may lend a hand, but all too often the fire burnt until there was nothing left to burn. Firefighting techniques were generally limited to using buckets to throw water on to the fire, pulling thatch off the roof, and creating fire breaks to stop the fire

...

Firemen’s six-hour Saturday night call in bitter wind

In a strong, bitter wind that at one time sent flurries of sparks repeatedly across the top of narrow Queen Street towards other property, Bideford firemen, with two fire appliances, fought an outbreak on the top floor of a three-storey building, part of Messrs Heard Bros’ garage premises, on Bideford Quay.

Damage at Messrs Heard’s and at the Southern National Omnibus offices is estimated to run substantially into four figures.

Cause of the outbreak is unknown. Principal damage was to the roofing. A records and stationery store and part of the staff canteen and washroom were damaged at Heard’s, and other paintwork blistered, and at the Bus Co.’s premises, which particularly felt the effect of the water used to fight the fire, ceilings on all three floors were damaged. A hold was broken in a party wall by firemen to enable them to get to the seat of the fire. A mass of charred records of past years from Messrs Heard’s fell through...

Veteran ex-fire officer

"Harry was a really fine fireman" said Mr C Morris. An ex-serviceman of the first world war, Mr Blackmore spent his life in the building trade, being foreman for a local firm for many years. Bowling was one of his great hobbies and he spent happy hours at the Bideford Strand club even if unable to play as his declined.

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

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...

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

New Fire Engine 18 January 1938

Fire Brigade & Fires. Decision to purchase a new Merryweather Fire Engine, the cost not to exceed £1,200. Mr T Burton; Mr W Harris; Mr WC Friendship; Mr C Morris (Chief Fire Officer); Mr CT Braddick; Mr and Mrs Satchwell; Mr WH Sanders; HW Greenwood (Mayor of Bideford); WH Chubb; JC Hilton; J Heywood; WJ Pillman; AR Allin

New Fire Engine Christened 'Kipling' 23 August 1938

Fire Brigade & Fires. Bideford's new fire engine was christened 'Kipling'. Mr WJ Pillman; Mr WC Friendship; Rev AE Green; Mr JC Hilton; Chief Officer C Morris; Chief Officer Southcombe; Chief Officer Holwill; Chief Officer Brown; Messrs Merryweather; Messrs Heard Bros

Bideford District's Joint Fire Brigade 7 May 1940

Fire Brigade & Fires. Christening ceremony of 'Kipling', the new fire engine for Bideford, Northam and District Joint Fire Brigade. Chief Officer C Morris

Bideford Boy's Death 1 October 1940

Fire Brigade & Fires. Collision with Fire Engine. A 12 year old Bideford boy. Wallace George Cawsey; Mr and Mrs WJ Cawsey; Chief Officer Morris; Messrs Webb; Messrs Northwood; JR Seward; Mr Shaxton

New Fire and Ambulance Stations 5 November 1965

Fire Brigade & Fires. £28,800 new fire and ambulance stations in Bideford Old Town.

High Street Fire Damage of £20,000 6 December 1963

Fire Brigade & Fires. Messrs Merediths

Torrington now possesses one of the most modern fire engines in the county – it was recently delivered direct from the works – but although good progress has been made, it will be some weeks before its new ‘home’ will be ready to accommodate it.

At the moment the new engine is housed in the fire station that was built by the NFS during the war. The Town Council were then promised that as soon as possible after hostilities ceased a new station would be provided. But the end of the war found the county so badly off for such accommodation that only now has Torrington’s turn arrived.
The full Gazette article is dated 25 March 1960

It was almost inevitable that young Anthony Morris, of Bideford, would join the fire brigade. It has become a family tradition.

His paternal grandfather, veteran Bideford Reds rower, Mr Charles Morris, was in charge here for many years and was succeeded by his son, the late Mr Stanley Morris, Tony’s uncle. And for some time, before joining the Royal Air Force, his father, Norman, was also a member. But Tony wanted more than voluntary service. So when he left the Grammar School with nine GCE O levels his sights were firmly fixed on a fire service career.

For more information, read the full article dated 17 December 1971

When Hartland fire siren is sounded at dead of night it awakens everyone in the town - but not, sometimes, some of the firemen who live at a distance.

Now, following represenations from Mr N Westlake, secretary of Hartland Volunteer Fire Service, the Parish Council are to press for the installation of alarm bells in the homes of the 12 firemen so that the siren need not be sounded during the night.
Mr H Conibear, who is a firemen, reminded the Council that the brigade had one had a handcart and operated only in Fore Street. Now it covers the town and Clovelly, Woolsery and Bradworthy.
Gazette article dated 2 July 1971

New Fire Station Officially Opened at Appledore 25 October 1968

Fire Brigade & Fires. The station cost £13,000. Mr George Northcott; PK Harris and Sons; Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd; JK Bowden; Messrs J Hinks and Son; East Yelland Power Station; Mr J Farrell; Tom Anstey; Mrs EMV Patt; Rev RC Dixon; Mrs Northcott; Ann Bowden; WMH Drake

Local fire and ambulance workers thanked 22nd July 1966

Local fire and ambulance

The Mayor of Bideford (Mrs Vivian Patt) expressed thanks to local members of the fire and ambulance services for their valued work for the community when she officially opened the new fire and ambulance stations at Old Town. To symbolise the opening, the Mayor pulled a lever which automatically flings wide the doors of the fire station to enable the applicances to make a quick get away.

Mr J Farrell, chairman of Devon County Fire Brigade Committee opened the proceedings. The Mayor, who was accompanieed by the Mayoress (Mrs P Galliford) then inspected the parading fire and ambulance men and women.

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