Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 04 October 1941

Cinemagoers Don Gas Masks

Fire at Goldthorpe

Following an outbreak of fire at a Goldthorpe cinema on Wednesday night, the hall was filled with thick smoke, but the programme continued for a short time and the audience, numbering about 800, remained in their seats, some of them donning gasmasks.

The fire broke out in a cellar underneath the screen, and stocks of wood and coke became ignited, giving off dense smoke and fumes which entered the auditorium. The police tackled the fire with stirrup pumps but were hampered by the smoke, and eventually the theatre had to be cleared and the Dearne Fire Brigade was sent for. They were unable to cope with the fire, however, not being equipped with apparatus to enable the firemen to work in the smoke, and the Mexborough Brigade was summoned, and eventually put the fire out with the help of smoke helmets.

There was at no time serious danger to the building, as the fire was confined to a concrete cellar and the chief danger was from clouds of acrid smoke which filled the bundling. The evacuation of the theatre was effected in an orderly manner and there were no personal injuries.