A DISASTROUS FIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 78, 22 May 1911, Page 5

A DISASTROUS FIRE.

CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CHIMNEY. STRATFORD DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL GUTTED. About a quarter past three on Saturday afternoon dense masses of smoke were observed issuing from the main school building in Fenton Street. At once the Fire Brigade was rung up from the “Stratford Post Office, but some difficulty was experienced in getting a connection. However, the brigade was notified and turned out smartly. The fire had a good hold, but the wind was in a favourable quarter, and blew the flames straight towards Fenton Street from where the fire started—near the headmaster’s office. Before the brigade arrived a largo quantity of books and papers were removed from the headmaster’s room, though as events proved the room was not in danger. On arrival the brigade ran out two leads ofjiose and operated on the Fenton Street frontage, but it was found advisable to attack the fire from the direction in which the wind was coming. The pressure of water was excellent, and by 4 o’clock the fire was well under control. Examination of tiro building afterwards clearly showed that the tire originated from a chimney a little to the Fenton Street side of the head master’s room. On Friday a fire was lighted in the fireplace, for the first time for three years. Previously tlio chimney had smoked badly, widen had kept the fire from being lighted, but tiie weather was so cold on Friday that a blaze was started, and the fact that the chimney did not smoke caused some comment. The chimney itself, as it appeared after the fire, with all the surrounding woodwork burnt away, shows signs of defective .construction, there being, apparently, at 6nc point a hole right through the brick work. The whole of the fire was practically confined to the vicinity of the chimney, though the fire ran along under the roof and was also driven along the corridors. The High School room is only slightly damaged by smoke and water. The rooms used by Standards HI.. V.. and VI. have been rendered totally unfit for use, and the Standard IV. room has been considerably damaged. Tiro headmaster (Mr. Tyrer) was in his room with a lady and gentleman within half an hour of the alarm being given, and saw no signs of fire. School work is going on as usual to-day. The High Schood punils have been accommodated at the Technical School. After the fire, Mr. J. B. Hinc, M.P., made a donation of £1 to the funds of the Fire Brigade in recognition of their good work. Needless to say. the brigade worked hard to a man.