On This Day, 23 August 1918

Birmingham Daily Post 

Friday 23 August 1918

SERIOUS FIRE IN BIRMINGHAM.

THOUSANDS POUNDS DAMAGE THIS MORNING.

Damage amounting to thousands of pounds was done by a fire which was discovered in the early hours of this morning in a range of shopping at the rear of Messrs. Cannings, dynamo manufacturers, Snow Hill. The fire was first seen by a lock-keeper on the canal side, and he informed a special constable, who gave the alarm to the brigade.

On their arrival it was found that a two-storey range of shopping was burning fiercely, and it was necessary to circulate what practically amounted to a brigade call, two engines attending from the Central Station, two from Albion Street, and one each from Handsworth, Harborne, Moseley Road, Aston, and Sparkhill, all being under the direction of Chief Superintendent Tozer. Seven jets were promptly got to work from the mains, and the fire was attacked from the canal side, Lionel Street, Water Street, and the front on Snow Hill.

The shopping where the fire originated was practically burnt out, and the three-storey premises on the corner of Lionel Street, occupied by a motor-cycle and cycle fittings manufacturers and several firms of electro-platers, were severely damaged, whilst the front portion Messrs. Cannings’ premises was also damaged by water.