firemen

DISASTROUS FIRE IN QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE, February 17. A disastrous fire occurred at Kalbar, formerly Englesburg, in the West Moreton district, early this morning. It was discovered at about 1.30 a.m., in Munford's refreshment rooms, on the main Boonah road, and raged until about 4 o'clock. Practically all the inhabitants turned out to fight the flames, but they were greatly handicapped through having to use water from house tanks. They were successful, however, in saving several large places of business. About 100 yards of buildings have been totally destroyed. The demolished premises include the school of arts and the local branch of the Bank of Queensland. Only some of the places are insured. It is not yet possible to estimate the damage. Source: The Register; 18 Feb 1920 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65028774#

M.D. Pigott set up a drapery business in Brisbane soon after arriving in Australia in 1885. He opened his first store in Russell Street, Toowoomba (next to the Criterion Hotel) on 6 July 1896. Pigott & Co advertised that at their opening there would be the 'most marvellous bargains ever offered in Toowoomba.' Just a year after opening Pigott & Co moved into specially remodelled premises in Ruthven Street on 24 August 1897. M.D. Pigott, his wife Mary Josephine and eight children moved from Brisbane to Toowoomba following the success of the store. During the later years of the 1890s and into the early years of the twentieth century, branch stores were opened at Boonah, Beaudesert, Chinchilla, Pittsworth, Dalby and Warwick. Tragedy strikes in 1909 In 1908 the store was completely remodelled including vestibule windows. Tragedy struck Pigott & Co when fire broke out on 8 July 1909 only a month after the renovations were complete. The building and stock were completely destroyed. To continue the running of the popular store a temporary building and offices were arranged the very next day. Warehouses rallied to supply goods and after a couple of weeks, business had increased and the temporary premises had to be extended. On 18 April 1910, the new Pigott & Co store opened with twice the floor space, enlarged departments and new departments added. Source: www.tr.qld.gov.au/our-region/history/historic-locations/1...

3 FIREMEN DEAD, IN £90,000 FIRE: BIG LOSS OF FOOD THREE firemen lost their lives when one of the worst fires in Brisbane's history destroyed the warehouse and effects of R. M. Gow and Co. Pty. Ltd., merchants and manufacturers, in Turbot Street, early yesterday. The £25,000 building was burnt out, and goods worth £65,000, chiefly irreplaceable food stuff, were destroyed. Both building and stocks were insured. Those killed were: — Third Officer Alfred Lambert, 52, of Fire Brigade headquarters, Ann Street. Fireman Henry Schirmer, 25, single, of Abbotsford Road, Bowen Hills. Fireman George Uren, 31, married, of Merton Road, South Brisbane. Slight injuries were received by Foreman A. A. Smith, who with the other three, entered the building with a hose. Police believe that they lost their way in the blinding smoke and were trapped in the office. They were then overcome by the smoke and fumes, which are thought to have risen from burning ammonia and sulfur. Foreman Smith alone staggered out of the office and received ambulance treatment. Gas masks were not carried by the firemen, and police believed that they were suffocated. Sergeant J. Doolan, of the Roma Street police, entered the burning building at 6.35 a.m. with several firemen and ambulance bearers in an attempt to rescue the three officers. They dragged them out, but they were dead. Last night police were still seeking the probable cause of the fire, which broke out at the rear of building, though on which floor is not known. The possibility of sabotage is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Branch. Goods burnt included all types of canned food, especially tinned salmon and sardines from Canada and Norway, vinegar, preservatives, breakfast foods, and biscuits. Blazed For Five Hours The automatic alarm gave the first warning of the fire at 4.59 a.m. Firemen from headquarters and South Brisbane stations arrived within a few minutes, but the fire had already gained a tremendous hold and despite their efforts, it continued to blaze for almost five hours. There were frequent muffled explosions from the burning goods. Flames leaped 40ft through the building and burning debris fell Into high heaps on the ground floor. Dense clouds of smoke poured out of the building. To conserve the water supply firemen used water drawn from the river 100 yards away by booster pumps after 10 a.m. A nearby garage was emptied of the motor cars parked in it, and effective precautions were taken to prevent the fire from spreading. Guest House Emptied Residents at the Burwood Guest House, next door, were awakened by the noise at 5 a.m. and police ordered them to leave. Hastily donning clothes and carrying some of their furniture, they sat on their sofas and tables on the footpath for several hours. Later they were allowed to return to the residential, which was not damaged. The city architect (Mr. F. G. Costello) has declared the sidewall of the burnt building nearest the river to be a menace and has ordered its destruction. He has advised occupants of the top floor of the guest house, which Is separated from the dangerous wall only by a narrow lane, to move to the bottom floor. With the firm's architect, Mr. Costello will inspect the three-story-high wall overlooking Turbot Street today. 'I am not worried by its present position,' he said last night. Third Officer Lambert joined the Fire Brigade in 1910, and was recently promoted to the third officer. previously he was in charge of the South Brisbane station. He has left a widow and three children. Fireman Schirmer joined the brigade a year ago. He tried to enlist in the A.I.F. last week but was rejected because of his occupation. His parents are believed to live at Gracemere, near Rockhampton. Fireman Uren was farming at Gatton and Mulgowie before joining the fire brigade two years ago. Only eight months ago he married Miss Audrey Adams. Firemen will attend the funeral of Fireman Uren to the Toowong Cemetery at 2.30 p.m. today, and that of Third Officer Lambert to the Crematorium at 4 p.m. Fireman Schirmer's body will be sent tonight for burial at Gracemere. Source: The Courrier Mail, 14 Jan 1942 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/50145261