The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-26
WILL. INVESTIGATE
WHITE HOUSE FIRE
Chief Wagner Will Have
Fire Marshal Take
Matter Up.

! A rigid investigation into the cause
| CT the fire that threatened to destroy the
Executive Offices. is to be made tomor-
row This investigation may cause the
remodeling Of the entire heating plant
/ Of the building
Chief Wagner, Of the Fire Depart
ment, said today that he would have
Fire Marshal Nicholson visit the Execu-
tive Offices the first thing tomorrow
morning. and make detailed Investlga-
ton Of the cause and origin of the
blaze. The fire. had been reported as
due to a defective fiue. but from facts
placed in his hands today, the chief is
convinced that this was not the real
cause of the blaze.
The fire was in a wooden partition.
through whic4s two two-inch steam
pipes had been run. These pipes had
no covering on them. and were not
placed in a galvanized iron box as IS
usually the case. They we're simply run
through the partition next to the highly
seasoned wood. It is understood that
all OF the heat piping is run through
in similar manner in the old portion
OF the building
In New Section.
In the new section. under construc-
ticn by the George A. Fuller Company,
some Of the steam piping is being en-
cased in galvanized boxes Some Of it.
however. is exposed.
Representatives OF the Fuller COM
pany have giVer, orders that no one
is 10 be given access to the building.
and that no one is to be permitted TO
see the burned partition. An employees
and the policemen on duty in the White
House Grounds have been cautioned
not to talk of the fire Because Of an
this secrecy, IT is hard 10 get at the
exact details.
1t is possible that the Investigation
10 be made by the Fire Department to-
remodeling
Building Inspector Hacker could not
be reached today, and il Is not known
what action he VIII take. Major Spen-
Ger Cosby Is car of town Rudolph
Foster. assistant secretary to the Presi-
dent, said, in answer % an inquiry, that
no complaint would be made against the
building as unsafe, unless some sort
OF a report was received 70 this effect
Cause of Fire.
It was reported to Fire Department
headquarters last night that the blaze
was due to a defective fiue, and this
was accepted as fact. until an investi-
cation was started BY The Times today.
The fire was in the center of the par
ution that forms the east wall Of the
reception ROOM It extended from floor
to ceiling, between the two pieces Of
joist, or uprights. between which the
pipes were placed. These joists are
Georgia pine. two by six inches.
They were placed sixteen inches apart
All the partitions are made in a sim
lar manner. One of the burnt ioists
was placed fat against the. chimney
that contained the supposed defective
fiue.
The side next the chimney. however.
was not burned, the fire apparently
having been confined to the Opposite
side In addition the chimney, or sun
posed defective hue, was not 10 use
There was no IRE near it until the par
tition caught,
Damage Slight
The actual damage done will amount
TO probably 500, but for time the fire
threatened as complete destruction as
was accomplished by the British in 1917.
The blaze was discovered before Il had
found its way to the roof.
The Office building was closed tight
yesterday and a negro fireman en-
plOyed by the Fuller company built a
fire i'm the furnsce TO dry out the new
plastering quickly. The furnace Is a
steam heating affair, and the man
probably made too hot a re. The usual
Saturday band concert was in progress
and tho Grounds vvnra grounded