The forge was in the middle of the new open plan craft block. The ground floor centre contained lathes and milling machines with woodwork rooms around the edge. The first floor was a type of mezzanine on both sides linked by a bridge. On this floor were technical drawing and domestic science rooms.
I don't know if you have ever done any blacksmithing but in a forge the knack is to get the fire in the centre just big enough to heat the job in hand. If it gets too big, coke gets wasted, so if the fire does become too large one sprinkles water from a milk bottle around the edge of the fire just to keep it in check.
It was mid afternoon when our period ended and I knew no one else was going to use the forge that afternoon. Because Steven and myself were conscientious and trustworthy (presumably this was before the maggots) we were allowed to get on by ourselves and as the period drew to a close we thought it would be better if we put out the forge fire rather than let it go out by itself. To achieve this we chucked a bucket of water on the fire and were amazed if not a little alarmed to see a huge mushroom cloud of steam go billowing up to the rooms above. Satisfied the fire was out we went on to the next lesson.
After the next half period, walking to our next lesson some said, "Hey have you seen the ambulance?" I went to a window to see a number of girls with blankets round their shoulders being lead off the school premises towards either one or two ambulances.
I did not think any more of this until the next day when I was summoned by Mr Hirst, Head of Metal-work. He asked me about the forge and what had I done, I told him and then he then explained what I had thought was steam was in fact, and dont quote me on this, a type of methane called producer gas. Because the domestic science class upstairs had got cooker extractor hood going the gas had been draw into their room, causing within minutes steaming eyes, vomiting and headaches.
I wasn't told off as I hadn't known at the time what I was doing. But I was told in no uncertain terms never to do it again.
