TRAPPED BY FIRE

Evening Star, Issue 20917, 7 October 1931, Page 10

TRAPPED BY FIRE

THRILLS OH BLAZING PIER MANY DANCERS IN PERIL > AIL RESCUED BY BOATS Dancers trapped by a fire on tbo pier at Penarth, near Cardiff, on a night m August, were rescued by boats, the only mishap was when one of the boats was being launched from the shore. It capsized m the heavy seas and tbe occupants had to swim ashore, but the boat was recovered and relaunched. When tire firo broke out in the dance hall the pier was crowded with people, and there were over 200 dancers in the hall. When the alarm was raised the majority of the people rushed to the exit and escaped without injury. About fortv, however, made their way to the end of the pier and were cut off by the flames. , „ , , , Members of the Penarth Yacht Club quicklv took boats to the rescue, and a Cardiff pilot cutter also rushed to the scene, and the trapped people were all taken off. In the meantime the lire spread rapidly, and before it was got under control the pier and the bin l clings there were destroyed, only the shore end, which is built of concrete, escaping. Huge baulks of blazing timber broke away and could bo seen still burning in the sea halt a mile away. The damage was estimated at £20,000.

ABOUT 800 PEOPLE ON THE PIER. The piermaster said there were about 800 people on the pier at the time, and as soon as the alarm was given the piei officials asked everyone to move as quickly as they could towards the snore. Fortunately none of the people lost their beads, and although the whole pier was ablaze in a few minutes most of the people reached the shore in safety. Some of the dancers ran the wrong way, and so were marooned en the pieVhead. The fire broke out at 0 pan., and was under control at 11 pan. The pierhead is of cement, and except for the heat, which soon became very fierce, the people were in no danger while the boats went to their rescue. << far as wo have been able to examine the wreckage there is no sign of anyone having been trapped, said an official. “We think that the fire was caused by a cigarette-end falling between the timber, being fanned into a blaze by the fierce wind. “The pier itself, which is <oolt in length, blazed .furiously. Flames leaped to a height of 20ft or 30ft, and lighted up tho sea for miles around. A fanned tho flames. It was an amazing sight to sec the wooden structure changed into a blazing mass in so short a time. But for the orderlj way in which the people left the. pier hundreds might have been trapped in the flames. The fire spread so quickly that we feared some might have been caught, but no one has been reported nnssmg. Hundreds of people watched the firemen attacking the flames. The pier was put out of action as far as shipping was concerned.

SCREAMS OF “FIRE.” Tho dancers were taking part in a gala dance and were wearing coloured caps and favours when there were screams of “fire” from a number of dancers. Flames were seen snooting up through the floor in the middle of tho hall. Those nearest tho door rushed out, and the alarm was taken up outside the hall. There was a concerted rush to the pier exit. Meanwhile about fifty people had been cut off by the flames which quickly spread all over the floor.' Luckily the glare from the windows had been seen by members of the Penarth Yacht (iltih, who were in their clnhroom on the esplanade a few yards from the pier. Under the direction of Commander R. S. Back six boats were manned, and after a tussle with the heavy seas they readied the pier pavilion. Fortunately there was accommodation for all the marooned dancers and members of tho band in the boats, and it was only a matter of minutes before, they wore taken off the pier. One man broke a window m order to get out of the pavilion, Oiio of the dancers said: — “For, five terrible minutes wo thought we would have to choose between being burned to death or trusting ourselves to the_ angry seas which were running. It is impossible to describe our relief when wo saw the boats being put out from the shore. Everybody behaved splendidly. There were many women in the party, and yet there was not a trace of panic. Some of tho dancers were rescued by the pilot boat. The flames spread with alarming suddenness, and wo Lad not even time to rescue our coats and belongings. The members of tho hand lost all their instruments.

FIREMEN’S NARROW ESCAPE. “An east wind blew right down the pier and carried the flames tho whole length. The firemen were helpless; they did their best from the esplanade, but it was impossible for them to get near enough to the .pavilion to check the flames. All that was left standing after the blaze were the iron struts of the pier and a short portion of the wooden superstructure, together with the new concrete pavilion at tho esplanade end of the pier. “ The fire could bo seen for miles, and blazing piecs of wood were carried along by the water. There was a blaze and a shower of sparks as portions of the structure fell into the water. We were none the worse for onr adventure.”

Firemen had narrow escapes. Three or four men wpre playing a liose on a part of tho pier when it suddenly collapsed just in front of them, but they were able to jump clear. It is stated that several people who wore waiting to be taken off the end of tho pier sustained slight burns from sparks blown in their direction. Some girl dancers suffered _ considerably from shock, but after medical attention wero able to return home.