Station Officer Robert Muir died of a heart attack while attending a fire at Fatima House, Kilmarnock on the 8th of August, 1963.
KILMARNOCK FIREMAN DIES:
TWO OTHERS INJURED
One fireman died and two others were injured early yesterday (Thursday) morning
while attending a fire at the Roman Catholic Retreat, Fatima House, four miles
from Kilmarnock on the road to Ayr.
The fireman who died – Station Officer, Robert Muir, Kilmarnock – was directing
operations when he collapsed. He was found to be dead on arrival at Kilmarnock
Infirmary.
The fire, which broke out about 5-30 a.m. was confined to staff quarters and
administration block. Molten lead from the roof burned firemen Andrew McConnell
and Thomson Dunlop. Both received attention at the infirmary.
Brigades from Kilmarnock, Irvine, Ayr and Troon attended the blaze. Seven
ambulances were called out but none of the residents or guests in the house were
injured.
The fire was brought under control just as it reached the main doorway leading
into the main building.
(Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, August 9, 1963. Page 4.)
Station Officer Dies Fighting Fire at Coodham
A Station Officer died and two others were taken to Kilmarnock Infirmary early
on Thursday morning while fighting an outbreak of fire at the Roman Catholic
Retreat of Fatima House, about four miles from Kilmarnock.
The officer who died was Robert Muir, who was directing operations when he
collapsed from a suspected heart attack. He was found to be dead on arrival at
Kilmarnock Infirmary.
The two firemen, Alex. M’Connell (28), 26 Nelson Street, Newmilns, and Thomas
Dunlop (30), 35 Sunnyside Crescent, Mauchline, suffered burns from molten lead
and allowed home after treatment.
The fire broke out about 5-30 in the west wing, which is used mainly as staff
quarters, and an administration block. Fire Brigades from Kilmarnock, Ayr,
Irvine and Troon raced to the scene and by the time they had got the fire under
control, the blaze had reached the doorway to the main hall. The wing was
completely destroyed.
Water from Tenders
Their task in controlling this outbreak might have been made easier if a lake,
which lies directly behind the main building, had not been recently drained. The
firemen had to use water from tenders until they connected to a water main about
half a mile away.
At the time of the fire, only ten guests were staying in the Retreat and none of
them were injured. Several ambulances were called to the scene in case people
were injured.
Station Officer Muir, who was 49, joined Paisley Fire Brigade shortly before the
second world war, in 1938. He moved to Kilmarnock Fire Brigade in 1941 and
eventually rose to the appointment of Station Officer at Kilmarnock.
He was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List two
years ago, and is survived by his wife and daughter.
(The Kilmarnock Standard, Saturday August 10, 1963. Page 5)
Death
MUIR
Suddenly on 8th August, 1963. Robert Nicol Muir, B.E.M. (Station
Officer, South Western Area Fire Service, Kilmarnock) aged 49 years, beloved
husband of Margaret Jeffrey, 100 Titchfield Street, Kilmarnock.
(The Kilmarnock Standard, Saturday August 10, 1963. Page 1.)
Acknowledgement
MUIR
Mrs Muir and Margaret desire to thank relations and friends, Firemaster and all
personnel of the South Western Fire Brigade, National Association of Fire
Officers, Northern Area Brigade, Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Fifeshire Fire
Services, Fatima House, Coodham, Burgh Surveyor, Glenfield and Kennedy for their
kind expressions of sympathy and floral tributes received in their recent sad
bereavement: also Kilmarnock Police, family minister and funeral undertaker for
their services rendered and all those who attended at the cemetery. – 100
Titchfield Street.
(The Kilmarnock Standard, )
Robert Muir is buried in lair R2417 at Kilmarnock Cemetery, Grassyards Road, Kilmarnock.