AN alarming gorse fire made headlines in the Gazette 100 years ago.
The fire began shortly before midnight on the hills opposite Stuart Lodge, Malvern Wells.
It was a wild night and the flames spread rapidly as the fire burned "fast and furious" for an hour and a half. It was not subdued until an area of about 12 acres had been burned.
The paper said the fire had been tackled by Mr G Hooper, who raised the alarm. He was joined by PC Lyes, fireman Hemming and others, who got it under control by by beating the gorse with sticks.
At one time it seemed as if the flames were spreading towards Ridler's Quarry, so all the explosives there were carried to a place of safety. No information was given as to the cause of the fire, although it was reported there had been gorse fires on Midsummer's Hill and Cayson's Hill, near Bromsberrow, earlier that night.
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