What sparked fire in 1949/50 Bradford? Here's the causes

The interesting booklet was provided by Bradfordian and Telegraph & Argus reader Ray Banyard, who for more than 30 years worked in the control room at Yorkshire Fire Service, now West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. Here we take a second look at the report.

It contains details of awards and commendations given to firefighters.

The following people were singled out:

*Assistant Divisional Officer Diver and Fireman 61/Moore: fire September 29, 1949. Rescued two women from a window of the first floor of a burning building at 43 Hall Ings. Commended by Chief Officer.

*Fireman 22 Boyle: fire July 6, 1949. Descended pit at Low Moor Forge, New Works Road, Low Moor, in an effort to rescue two men who were trapped, after having been severely scalded by molten metal and fallen from a wooden platform approximately eight feet from the top of the pit. Commended by committee and the Chief Officer.

*Fireman 88 Sproat: fire July 8, 1949. Revived a puppy found overcome by heat and smoke, lying in a corner of the living room at 211 Huddersfield Road, Low Moor, Bradford. Commended by the RSPCA.

The booklet contains a table summarising the causes and supposed causes of fires for the year.By far the main cause of fire was chimney sparks, with 302 fires out of a total 815 - 37 per cent. Of these, 288 took place in residential properties.

The City of Bradford Fire Brigade annual report for the year ended March 31, 1950 (Image: Newsquest)

Next, came children playing with matches, causing 67 fires. This could have been due to a lack of health and safety education at the time.

Smoking materials ‘cigarettes, etc’ account for 55 fires, while matches and candles are responsible for 37 fires.

With steam trains still thundering along the rail network. sparks from locomotives account for 29 of the incidents, while wire cable also caused 29.

Fires in grates igniting furniture was a common cause of fires, with oil lamps also appearing on the list.

‘Fish frying range’ is listed as the reason for 14 fires.

The booklet also lists the location of underground water tanks that could be used to help fight fires. Thirty five sites are listed including Lister Park, at the rear of Cartwright Hall; Drake Street, at its junction with Bridge Street; Forster Square, opposite the General Post Office; Kirkgate, at the junction with Godwin Street; St Luke’s Hospital, near the boiler house; Rawson Square;

Streets with more than one tank include Leeds Road, Thornton Road and Vicar Lane.

The booklet also states that during the year 90 members of various youth organisations, including the Scouts, Boys’ Brigade and Air Cadets, were trained in elementary fire prevention and fire fighting to a standard required to gain their proficiency badges.

‘This training involved the attendance at Nelson Street of each boy for nine lectures and demonstrations, and on one further occasion for an examination,’ it states.