Fire destroys much of a small town in southwestern England and hundreds are made homeless.

The small town of Ottery St. Mary in southwest England was struck with a devastating fire when a blaze broke out around noon in a school and quickly spread across the neighboring thatched roofs. A stiff breeze helped the flames across the Devonshire town till they were checked in the late afternoon.  A careful survey the next day counted 111 buildings destroyed with around 500 people made homeless, though no serious injuries were reported.  (By John Osborne)