Fire fighter who died as a result of a fire at Covent Garden.
Charles Fisher was born on 14 November 1906 in Bermondsey, London, a son of Joseph William Fisher (b.1876) and Alice Ellen Fisher née Schofield (1876-1953). His birth was registered in 4th quarter of 1906 in the St Olave (Bermondsey) Registration District, London.
He is shown as aged 4 years and at school on the 1911 census return form completed by his father. He was living in three rooms at 118 Guinness Buildings, Pages Walk, Bermondsey, London, with his parents and his five siblings: Joseph William Fisher, aged 13 years - at school; Alice Ellen Fisher, aged 11 years - at school; Lily Fisher, aged 9 years - at school; Arthur Fisher, aged 6 years - at school and Frederick Fisher, aged 1 year. His father described himself as a rubber tyre vulcanizer employed by the London Fire Brigade.
On the 1921 census return form, he is shown as aged 14 years, 8 months and in whole-time education, living in four rooms at 24 Middle Street, Peckham, London, with his parents and two siblings: Joseph William Fisher - a store keeper employed by Boots Cash Chemists at Borough Road, Southwark and Irene Fisher, aged 9 months. His father described himself as a tyre vulcanizer employed by the London County Council's London Fire Brigade at Headquarters, Southwark Bridge Road, Southwark, London.
He joined the London Fire Brigade on 13 February 1930 as a Fireman, giving his previous occupation as a 4th mate in the Merchant Service and his date of birth as 14 November 1906.
On 3 November 1934 he married Mary Ellen Sloane (1912-1995) at Camden Church, Peckham Road, Camberwell, London, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 27 years, a bachelor employed by the London Fire Brigade and living at 26 Middle Street, Peckham, the son of Joseph William Fisher, a London Fire Brigade employee, whilst his wife was described as aged 22 years, a spinster also residing at 26 Middle Street, the daughter of the deceased Albert Sloane who had been employed in the Merchant Service.
The birth of their first child, Charles Buddy Fisher, on 8 May 1935 at Charing Cross Hospital, was registered on 16 May 1935 by his mother and their home address was shown as 47 Handforth Road, London, SW8.
They had two children: Charles Buddy Fisher (b.1935) and Kenneth George Fisher (b.1939).
The 1939 England and Wales Register, that shows his date of birth incorrectly as 14 October 1906 records him as a fireman at the Old Town Fire Station, Wandsworth, London.
On 1 April 1948 the was appointed as a Station Officer at the London Fire Brigade's B36 Whitefriars Fire Station, 7 Carmelite Street, London, EC4.
His death was incorrectly registered as aged 42 years (he was in fact aged 43 years) in the 1st quarter of 1950 in the Westminster Registration District, London.
The London Fire Brigade report states that on Tuesday, 20 December 1949 they were called to a fire in the Covent Garden Flower Market, Tavistock Street, London, WC2, a single storey building with an individual basement 55m x 75m containing wood and cardboard boxes, packing material and fruit.
On arrival smoke was issuing from conveyors leading to the basement. At 11.20 hours four appliances - a pump, a pump escape and a turntable ladder from the A5 Soho Fire Station and a pump from the B36 Whitefriars Fire Station attended. Station Officer Baldry from A5 crawled into the basement and located the fire and then led a breathing apparatus crew of two, with a jet, to the fire.
At approximately 11.25 hours Station Officer Baldry met Station Officer Fisher from B36 alone in the basement wearing breathing apparatus and directed him to the hose line. At 11.36 hours one of the breathing apparatus crew heard Station Officer Fisher shouting "get me out, my sets running out". The Fire fighter found Station Officer Fisher in a state of collapse and tried to get him to the exit. The Fire fighter was overcome after losing his mouthpiece and nose clip. Following this first unsuccessful rescue attempt further attempts were made by other firefighters working on their own.
Eventually a co-ordinated rescue attempt was mounted by a Station Officer and an Assistant Divisional Officer. Station Officer Fisher was brought from the basement but was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. The fire was eventually brought under control at 10.00 hours the next day.
His body was cremated at Streatham Park Crematorium, Rowan Road, London, SW16. He is shown as 'Stn. O. Charles Fisher' on the London Fire Brigade memorial in Highgate Cemetery, Swain's Lane, London, N6.
He is also commemorated on the National Firefighters Memorial in Sermon Lane, London, EC4 and on the Firefighters Remembered website.
This was a major fire which involved over 700 firefighters. A British Pathe video taken at the time shows the scene.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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