The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-05
Falls on Shingle Roof and
Ignites 1t; Two Resi-
dences Burn
LACK OF PRESSURE
HANDICAPS FIREMEN
Dangerous Fire, Says Chief Bennett.
Homes of Mrs. c. c. Ellis, c. H.
krauss Destroyed = Hodges
Residence Badly Damaged

A toy balloon set off by playful young
sters to celebrate the Fourth of July
alighted on the roof of the residence OF
Mrs c. C. Ellis, 1880 North Thirtietn
street. at 3:45 o'clock yesterday after
noon and started one of the largest con-
fiagrations of the summer. The damage
was estimated at about $4,000.
The paper balloon landed on the roof
and ignited from the lighted candle within
as it collapsed, set fire to the shingle roof,
which was in an extremely dry condition
owing to the lack of rain. Before the
blaze was noticed and alarm turned in
the fire had gained much headway, and by
the time the first fire company arrived
the flames had already spread to the ad-
jacent residence of c. H. Krauss, 1928
North Thirtieth street.
A second alarm was Immediately turned
In and fire companies 4, and II and the
flying squadron from No. l responded.
Fire Chief A. V. Bennett and Assistant
Fire Chief Walton soon arrived on the
scene and these executive directed the
fire fighters with four streams of water.
In an hour the fire was under control
The fire completely destroyed the resi-
dences of Mrs. C. G, Ellis, 1880 North
Thirtieth street: c. H. Krauss, 1928 North
Thirtieth street, and the roof of the res
idence of T. J. Hodges, 1926 North Thir-
tieth street was burned off. Considerable
damage by water was also done. Ihe
residence of S. P. Moore. 1880 North Ihir-
tieth street. was also damaged several
hundred dollars and several other houses
suffered slight damage.
II was said that if high wind had
been in progress, the entire residential
section of Norwood would have been
threatened by the fire. In that part Of
the city the residences are all Of wooden
construction and due to the intense heat
which has prevailed for several days
were in very combustible condition.
Lack of sufficient water pressure Is also
said to have been responsible for the
spread of the blaze.
1T was a very dangerous fire said
Chief A. V Bennett. and that 1t reached
the proportions it did is largely to be
attributed to the lack of sufficient water
pressure in that part of Norwood. That
the DldZt SHOulu IdNt bttn ShtoSb ~ "a
toy balloon shows how dry khe shingle
roof was and how combustiIe the wooden
residences were Also [ understand the
citizens We're a little slow in turning In
an alarm. for by the time the fire COM
pany from No 4 arrived the Ellis resi-
denee was already mass of fame and
the fire had been communicated to the
krauss residence.
''As the hose was laid We found that
we Jld a very poor water pressure to
hght the fire. Owing to the fact that
the iaduct at Twelfth avenue and Twen-
ty-seventh street is being replaced by a
concrete structure, we were delayed in
bringing fire engine to the scene. The
fire was also at the highest point in Nor
wood and this fact made it very hard to
get sufficient water to fight the blaze. IL
there had been a good wind, there is
no telling when the fire would have been
put out The damage was between 10000
and s25OO0."
U. S. Ellis. an attorney, with offices in
the Farley building, said ut was my
mothers residence that was destroyed.
wish to conplc in about the lack of water
pressure in Norwood. At the fire | was
witness to the fact that the firemen ar
rived in ample time to prevent the blaze
from spreading and also to have saved
the most of my mothers residence. How
ever, II is a fact that Chief Bennett will
not deny that the iiremen had their lines
of hose all stretched out. but that there
was no water forth coming. This was the
cause of Very large fire and If thare
had been the slightest breeze blowing tho
entire section of Norwood could have
burned up
1t was stated last night that the dam
~. 49, ,xr1It ax.1
by insurance, but that the interior fur
nishings We're uninsured.