Imperial Valley press., 1912-09-04
TWO MILLION DOLLAR FIRE
SWEEPS OVER OCEAN PARK
iCONTINUED FROM PAGE ONEl

and the Decatur Hotel the largest hos
telry on the beach, may be razed
With the full strength of both the
Ocean Park and Venice departments
in operation, an appeal to the fire de
partment of Los Angeles was recog-
nized late yesterday afternoon, when
chemical wagon, motor driven, start
ed overland to the scene of the confla-
grafton. Steps were then taken to
transport other apparatus by rail.
Shortly after . o'clock a shift in
the wind carried the flames inland
and back toward Venice, resulting in
complete exodus of the large sum-
mer colony between Ocean Park and
Venice, people swarming back toward
he highlands by the hundreds. taking
with them what valuables they could
conveniently carry.
AT 6 o'clock last evening the busi-
ness district of Ocean Park. where
millions of dollars have been invested
not only in concession stands, but in
substantial mercantile establishments,
was doomed. With the regular fire
men, assisted by scores of volunteers,
battling stubbornly against the prog
1888 vi lllt dIlOll, lHell tllOl >
had apparently no effect whatever, the
ocean breeze taking the flames across
Ocean Front to the brick and frame
structures on the east side, where 2
solid block of inflammable material
stood in its path.
Much of Ocean Park and Venice.
like all other Southern California
beach resorts is cOmnOSed for the
most part of frame buildings, and the
fire made a clean sweep through the
business section and spread to the re-
idence district. The usual high after
noon sea breeze helped the headway
of the flames.
Los Angeles gave all the help pos
sible TO the neighboring beach city.
One steam wagon and a hose cart
were started as quickly as help was
summoned and all the available auto
mobile apparatus that could be spared
from that city. was sent.
Soon after the fire started the tele-
phone and telegraph trunk lines were
burned and for a time communication
by wire with Los Angeles direct from
Ocean Park was cut off. The lines
from Playa del Rey and Santa Monica,
however. were intact
Shortly after o'clock the wind
shifted, carrying the flames inland
The houses in the path burned like
tinder and residents. wild with fear,
fed for their lives through the streets
to the open space beyond the Pacific
Electric railroad tracks. They were
pOwerless to save more than their
wearing apparel MANY who had
feared this move of the fire had start
ed to remove household goods and
their effects Uttered the streets for
blocks.
Willing hands seized the furniture.
trunks, piles of bedclothes and every
conceivable article of the household
that filled the narrow streets and
helped to carry them to the open
stretches inland. Much personal prop
ertv was saved in that manner. but
for the most part the household eff
fects in the buildings in the flame zone
were destroyed.
The streets and brOadwalk present
ed a scene of wild confusion. Men,
women and children, fearful for the
safety Of loved ones hunted through
the crowds to find brothers. sisters.
husbands and ~-ivo~ The sands We're
Uttered with +Nn cfects of the refu-
gees who fec fro'' the houses near
the ocean front. Those who lived in
the apartments in the vicinity of the
blaze threw their personal effects into
trunks and carried and hauled them
through the streets to places of safety.