Some Other Fires Attended

 

1876

 

On 31 October 1876, a fire broke out at Field Farm, Ufton, cause unknown. Mr Benyon's fire engine from Englefield was quickly on the spot and contained the fire to one oat rick.

 

1892

 

In company with the Reading Volunteer Brigade, and the County and Maiden Erlegh fire engines, the Englefield fire engine attended a rick fire on a farm occupied by Mr White at Theale.

 

1895

 

The Englefield crew attended four fires in 1895: January 25th, at Englefield School House; April 9th, at Mrs. Butler's, The Lambdens; April 20th, at Mr Stacey's , Hall Place Farm, Tilehurst; July 5th at Mr Waring's, near Lambden's Farm. A total of 26 hours was employed in extinguishing these fires and the number of miles travelled was 17.

 

"The [Englefield] Fire Brigade on Friday, July 5th, had a tough and long job at Mr. Waring's, near Lambden's Farm, three large hay ricks being on fire. The call was received at 11.53 a.m. The nearest water was at Mrs. Butler's pond, 1560 feet of hose had to be used to get the water on to the burning ricks, and after working about 16 hours the pond was emptied, and the Brigade returned home at 4.30 Saturday morning. About 70 tons of good and bad hay was saved; The value of the three ricks was £800."

 

1897

 

Two Fires were attended in this year, as follows: July 23rd, Field Farm, Burghfield; July 26th, Perrin's Farm, Mortimer. The number of hours employed in extinguishing the above was 15, and the miles travelled to and from the fires were 26.

 

1901

 

On 21 November 1901, the Englefield Brigade was called out when a building adjacent to the school caught fire. This was known as the "Soup Kitchen", opened in 1888 to supply the children with halfpenny dinners and also used for cookery classes.

 

1903

 

A straw rick belonging to Mr Benyon was set on fire and although the Englefield Fire Brigade did their best it could not be saved. Mr G Knight at work in the field saw a man, one Simpson from Mortimer West End, near the rick immediately before the fire. Simpson was arrested and committed by the Magistrates to the Assizes.

 

1905

 

The Chief Officer reported that five calls were received during the past year, two of which proved to be of a serious nature. One of these was a fire at Bozedown House, Whitchurch, in January. The fire originated in a maid's bedroom but the cause was unknown. Despite the combined efforts of the Englefield, Pangbourne and Whitchurch firemen the roof had fallen in by the time they arrived and the house was completely destroyed, although valuable furniture and paintings were saved. Only Mrs King, the wife of the owner, was at home at the time, Mr King and a large party of guests being out shooting.

 

1906

 

"Early on Tuesday morning, May 15th, the Brigade was called to Theale. The fire proved to be at the stables of Mr. D. M. Davies, which were burnt out; we can only regret his loss, one horse being burnt, and five traps, also his sons' bicycles, being destroyed."

 

1909

 

The Englefield Brigade attended a fire that destroyed two ricks belonging to Mr Thoyts of Sulhamstead House.

 

1914

 

The Englefield Fire Brigade attended the fire at Tyle Mill on July 11th from 1030 in the evening until 3 am the next morning, returning at 9 am and working until 8 pm. They were in attendance again on the following Thursday between 6.30 pm and 11.30 when flames were seen in the debris of the mill, endangering the house.

 

1915

 

On August 9th, 2nd Lt Kirton of the King's Own Scottish Borderers was motoring with friends near Beansheaf Farm when they saw a rick on fire. 2 Lt Kirton drove to warn the Englefield Fire Brigade but two ricks were destroyed despite the application of 1450 tons of water. John Thomas Clayton of no fixed abode admitted setting the ricks on fire, which he said he did because he had been rejected twice for military service, could find no work and preferred to be in gaol.

 

1918

 

On March 9th a corn rick at Bushy Wigmore caught fire and through the efforts of the Englefield Fire Brigade the greater part was saved.

 

The Fire Brigade was also called out on the afternoon of August 4th, the fourth anniversary of the declaration of war.