Needham Property Burned Out

At Needham on Sunday morning for the third time in eight days, the Harleston Fire Brigade had to engage in a battle with the flames. A number of sheds on the side of the main road, standing between the (Red) Lion Inn and the Post Office, were involved in the outbreak and extensive damage was done

A garage containing a Morris Cowley two-seater was burned to the ground
and it was impossible to extricate the car which belonged to Mr F.C. Colls, the landlord of the (Red) Lion Inn. A large fattening coop, in which there were 500 chickens, estimated to be worth at least £100, was also attacked by the flames, and the chickens lost. In another fattening coop nearby there were 200 chickens but a number of these were saved. Other property destroyed included a barn, owned by Mr A Whurr and rented by Mr Colls, some crates, about 15 to 20 packing hampers, a small cart, and various utensils. Four incubators and several thousands of eggs were saved just in time.

The fire was first reported by Mr C W Battell of the Post Office who was waiting for a call to be put through at the time. While he was waiting he was talking to a friend at the door. Suddenly the friend remarked that there seemed to be a bit of a blaze along the road. On going to have a look, Mr Battel noticed that the garage had caught fire. Realising the gravity of this he immediately informed Mr & Mrs Colls, who were just about to retire, and then phoned the Harleston Fire Brigade. That was at 10.55pm, and by 11.10pm the Brigade were on the scene; an amazingly quick piece of work considering that all the officers and men were scattered about the town and some of them in bed when the alarm was given. The Captain, Mr H.G. Denny, and Vice Captain, Mr J.W. Keeley, were highly praised for the way they handled the situation.

The nearest water was a beck about 300 yards away from the fire but it was only a matter of minutes before the Merryweather trailer pump (see below) was working and water being pumped on to the flames....

The petrol in the garage, and the wood many times covered with tar of which the buildings were constructed, burned with terrific intensity. It was not long before a large crowd of sightseers had gathered from all the neighbourhood.

All this time the fire seemed to grow in volume and burning pieces of timber were blown about by the breeze to the danger of the surrounding property. A wooden bungalow not far away became so hot that it was impossible to touch the walls. Mr Denny said that if the Brigade had been ten minutes later this, along with the Post Office and the Inn, would have been gutted.

After a time it became necessary to go half a mile away to the River Waveney to obtain water in sufficient quantity, but when this was done the firemen’s task was definitely easier and by midnight the outbreak was safely under control. Dawn was breaking before it was safe for the Brigade to return home.

The cause of the fire is somewhat obscure as no one was about at the time, and it is believed that it originally emanated from Mr Coll’s car which he had put away only ten minutes previously. The loss of the vehicle will be a great blow to its owner who had bought it only three months ago as an assistance to his poultry business and who was not covered by insurance. The garage belonged to the brewery.

Article taken from the Diss Express, 26th July 1935