Ballantynes FIRE

On the 23rd of October 1947 smoke rose from the cellar it was cup week and had approx 300 people and 447 staff.
Percy stringer a staff member was the first to notice and asked Eric Drake (another staff member) to call the fire brigade for a cellar fire.
Percy stinger first observed the fire at about 3:35pm.
The staff attempted to put out the fire as the fire brigade thought it minor and arrived 10 minutes lates ill-equipped with only enough equipment for a minor cellar fire smoke was rising from the 1st-floor window but the fire brigade thought it an exaggeration and thought evacuation was not necessary.
The staff started to evacuate people a while later although over 40 staff died.