Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-04
THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL. BUILD
ING FIRE.
Report Of Chief Engineer Cronin.
The MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSION AND THE SERIOUS
RESULTS WHICH FOLLOWED 1T.


Chief Engineer Cronin, Of the fire department,
In his report to the fire board for the month of
February, refers especially to the fire which de-
stroyed the Jefferson school building. He says:
On February 4th. at 1928 an. an alarm was
turned in from box AZ by the foreman Of engine
company No. A. to which the several companies
IN that fire district responded promptly. This
alarm was succeeded by general four min
utes later and the remaining apparatus was
soon on hand The morning was cold, the wind
blowing freshly from north of east When No.
reached the building fire was discovered
burning in the cloak room in the northwest
corner Of the northwest room Of the center sec
ton, the flames being Immediately adjoining the
west hallway An entrance was effected and
the hames IN that immediate spot were soon
gotten under control and it was supposed that
the fire was completely extingushed, a fact
which was reported to me by the foreman of
NO. company. As the building was filed with
dense smoke. ordered companies 1 and 3 to
the upper nOOfs in the west section. and No 6
IN the east, to ascertain whether there was any
fire.
The EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY A FRESH OUT
BREAK OF THE FLAMES.
Companies 1 and 3 had hardly reached the
landing the third floor when there was
loud explosion. which shook the building. This
was followed in about ten seconds by one of less
degree and Immediately almost the entire CEN
ter of the building was in flames and the men
were compelled to beat hasty retreat Had it
not been for the solidity of the walls all the men
III the building would have been crushed. The
IRE spread very rapidly. the heat being intense
and the heavy projecting cornices and high walls
made 1t too dangerous to effectively work from
ladders The attempt was made and abandoned
After the roof fell driving snow storm set in
which aided materially N tho uni CHI fof
the flying cinders, which would otherwise Tn
doubtedly have set fire to some OF the property
on the opposite square-although preparation
had been made TO meet such an emergency
ut the same time it made 1t difficult for the
men to manage the streams. To add TO the per-
pleXitieS OF the occasion. at 5:2S O'Clock an
alarm was turned in from box % caused by q
nre on u. near 7th street northwest, which
necessitated the withdrawal of three companies
out even IT this had not occurred the building
must of necessity been destroyed by reason of
Its faulty construction and the certain fact that
the fire was under way in the entire building
before it was discovered
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE AND CAUSE OF THE ExPLO-
SION.
1T has been ascertained that the fire origin
ated in a small room in the basement used as
storeroOm. and which contained at the time
only few pieces of board and an armfull of
kindling wood: but what caused it. has not
DeNh oCFtiVVco iHc Jdiitol II posittNt tHdt
there was no chemicals in the western portion
Of the building. therefore the explosion referred
to must have been caused by gas escaping from
the multitude of pipes and coming in contact
with large volume of heated air.
In regard to the faulty construction of the
building. can give no better description than
the following, taken from a report on the sub
ject made by the building committee of the board
OF school trustees Here follows an extract
from the report published in The STAR of Sat
urday last.l
FIREAEN INJURED BY THE EXPLOSION.
"When the explosion referred to occurred
there were a number of the men burned and
otherwise injured, Privates John Kane, of No.
g. and G. Boss. of No. 1, being the worse
Foreman Cox and Private Nolan Of No. g. and
Private Adams. of No. 1, were slightly burned.
Foreman S0rrell. of No. 4. had his lead Sc
verely cut and his back injured by some of the
falling debris, and Private White, of No. 3, was
also injured in the back
SAFETY IN THE FUTURE
The chief quotes from the report of the COM
mittee Of the school board the portion recon-
mending certain changes of construction in the
new buildings now in course of erection. which
changes he heartily indOrses, and closes by say
Ing, "that the suggestions and recemmenda-
tiOns relative to schools by the commission re-
Gently appointed To inspect buildings in the Dis
trict should be speedily carried out. as they are
absolutely essential, and unless the changes are
made there Is an ever present danger OF great
Loss OF life as we'll "a property"