CHARLESTON
Committee were: Messrs. McBeath, McCoy, Graves, Hardy, Nahr, Jackson, Masters, Donovan, Donne, and Horne.
The engine, which cost £200, was a manual affair operated by a see-saw framework with handles at both sides, and capable of throwing a stream of 200 gallons per minute to a height of 120 feet. It was housed in an open-faced building at the northern end of the Camp Reserve, and beside it was the fire-alarm bell. In later days, when no longer required for fire fighting, it was sold to Mr. J. P. Mitchell, who converted the frame and body into an express-wagon. In addition to the fire-engine, fire-buckets were provided and hung in convenient positions about the town. As there was no town water supply, all premises depending upon rain water, the engine could use only such as was obtainable from water-races and dams, of both of which there were several within the town boundary.
Considering that all buildings were of wood with, generally, scrim and paper linings, and open fire-places; and that all lighting was by candles or kerosene lamps, it seems remarkable that only four fires of any magnitude are recorded: one on 3rd November, 1869, in Prince’s Street West; the coal-seam fire of 1869; the fire of 1873 on the lower flat; and the Melbourne Hotel fire of 1904. The fire-engine had not arrived when the first two occurred, and the brigade had disbanded before the fourth.
Regarding the coal-seam fire, the District Engineer of South-West Goldfields, Mr. J. Henry Lowe, reported on 31st March, 1869: “A very troublesome contingency occurred at Charleston during the earlier part of the year. One of the coal-seams at the rear of the town took fire, either by accident, or more probably, the carelessness of persons passing the place. A large mass of coal was ignited, and the sulphurous fumes emitted from it was the source of very great annoyance: to the inhabitants and threatened to, if it increased, become insupportable. A contract was taken to extinguish the fire for £50, or nothing if attempts were unsuccessful. It appears that the fire was got under and no sign appeared for two months, so the money was paid. Shortly after, the fire reappeared, not only in the original spot but also at a distance of 40 or 50
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