Edmund Burt died as a result of a wall collapsing on him while fighting a fire at Watson's paper mill in Linwood on the7th October 1968.
Western Area Fire Brigade
ANNUAL REPORT
1968
The successful working of the Brigade was overshadowed by the tragic death on duty of Fireman Edmund Burt, aged 23, who lost his life during fire fighting operations on 7th October, 1968.
FIRES OF SPECIAL INTEREST
R. & W. Watson Ltd., Napier Street, Linwood:—The fire call to the above premises was received at Johnstone Fire Station at 14-43 hours on Monday, 7th October, 1968, and a pump escape was sent on. The remainder of the first attendance, a water tender, turntable ladder and hose/foam layer, was made up from Paisley Fire Station. On arrival, the Officer in Charge, finding that the main building was well alight made pumps up to four. The fire had spread rapidly through the building of 19th century construction, which was originally a cotton store and now used for storage of paper and, in fact, some of the employees had been caught in a surge of flame. They were being treated for various degrees of burns while the appliances were arriving. Water supplies were readily available and ten jets and one water tower jet were brought into use to control the fire and were fed from pumps operating from street hydrants and an open water supply in the mill. There was a tragic aspect to the fire as, at approximately 15-45 hours, the west wall collapsed and trapped four crew members. Rescue operations were mounted and three members were recovered alive but the fourth member had been killed by the falling masonry. The building was so severely damaged and in such a dangerous condition that arrangements were made to have it demolished immediately and the work of demolition started that same evening. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
FATALITIES.
It is with the deepest regret that I have to report 8 deaths in the Area caused by fire and building collapse.
7th October, 1968, was a day of tragedy in the Brigade when Fireman E. E. Burt, aged 23, was killed by the collapse of a wall, while carrying out his duties at a fire at Watson’s Paper Mill, Linwood.
(Extracts from the Annual Report)
Local fireman escapes in Linwood blaze
Buried to the waist in rubble, a Greenock fireman freed himself and battled his way to safety in the Linwood paper mill blaze that yesterday claimed the life of a fellow fireman.
The fire occurred at the mill owned by W. Watson, of Napier street, Linwood.
The man who died was 22 year old Edmund Burt, of Douglas Street, Largs.
Just minutes before the wall of the blazing building collapsed killing Fireman Burt, Fireman Gordon Squires (22) of Holmscroft Street, Greenock, and a colleague found themselves trapped by smoke in a loading bay.
“LUCKY TO BE ALIVE”
Mr Squires described how the wall collapsed onto the roof under which he and the other firemen were fighting the blaze.
“Eddie Burt” he said, “was on my left with one hose and Charlie Bishop had another. I was with Sub Officer Stewart Napier. Two other firemen were nearby.
“Suddenly we heard a rumbling and part of the roof fell on us. I saw Mr Napier dive for cover, and I did the same. I was hit by beams and bricks, but was not seriously injured. I was trapped by rubble, but I managed to struggle free. Those of us who escaped are lucky to be alive.”
(Greenock Telegraph, Tuesday, 8 October, 1968. Page 7.)
Fireman’s tribute to dead comrade
Men from Port Glasgow and Greenock Stations were among the 220 firemen who paid their last tribute yesterday to Eddie Burt, killed as he fought the Linwood paper mill inferno this week.
All the firemen marched half-a-mile in the pouring rain behind the fire tender bearing the Union Jack draped coffin to the crematorium at Woodside Cemetery, Paisley.
A crowd of over 300 crammed the small chapel for the service. Among them were the fireman’s mother, father and younger brother.
Chief Constable David Williamson of Renfrewshire and Bute led 12 police mourners. Dr. James W. Macfarlane, chairman of the Western Area Joint Fire Brigade Committee, was among those representing the County Council.
Of the six pall bearers, four were comrades who had fought the blaze five days earlier, when Eddide (23), of Barr Crescent, Largs, was crushed as a wall of the building collapsed.
(Greenock Telegraph, Saturday, 12 October, 1968. Page 7.)
STRATHCLYDE FIRE BRIGADE
MEMORIAL SERVICE
7 OCTOBER 1998
A Service to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of our colleague - Edmund Burt - who was killed on duty at a fire in Watson’s Papermill, Linwood on 7 October 1968.
ORDER OF SERVICE
Welcome
Rev. Peter Houston - Brigade Chaplin
Praise -23 Psalm (Ch3 - 387)
Prayers at the time of our gathering
Reading - Psalm 139 V1 -12
Councillor Ann Hall
Praise - Hymn ‘O God Our Help in Ages Past’ (Ch3 611)
Reading John 15, V1 - 4; 11 - 14
Assistant Divisional Officer G Young
An Appreciation
by
Firemaster J Jameson CBE, QFSM, CIMgt, AIFire
Strathclyde Fire Brigade
Lament - Brigade Piper
Praise - ‘Thou Whose Almighty Word’ (Ch 3 494)
“Using the past to face the present and interpret the future”
Brigade Chaplin
Prayer - For all whose work is hazardous in our times
Praise - Hymn “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah” ( Ch3 89)
THE BLESSING
west command