New Britain herald., 1915-12-29
MORE FIRES HERE
 IN 'l5 THAN EVER
To December 1 Losses Total 46,-
 258-245 Alarms Thus Far
$8,OOO BLAZE AT H. < B.

Blaze in Stock Room at Humason X ! BecxIey Plant Docs Great Damage
 to Valuable Stock Last Evening
 Years Review.
 The year 1915 saw more fires in New Britain than any previous year. This increase in fires is co-incident with the growth of the city and the loss per capita is no greater than it has been for the last nine or ten years, it being something less than $1. 245 Fires Since Jan. 1.
 According to the report made out by Fire Grief Robert M. Dame for the fire insurance underwriters there have been 245 fires since January 1, 1915, including the fire at the Humason x Beckley company last evening. Dur ing the year 1914 there was but 1SS fires and the highest record previous to this year was in 1913 when the de- partment answered 209 calls. The closing year has seen thirteen or four teen fires which stand out prominent because of the heavy loss or because of the spectacular nature of the blaze.
 Loss to December 1 Is $46,258.
 During the year of 1914 the 1sS fires resulted in a total loss of $32'- O69. Up to December 1 of the present year the total fire loss was $46,258 and the value of the property endan- gered was $1,S71,OO0. The last fig ures are exclusive or the fire last night or the fire at the Adkins Print ing company.
 January, 1915, saw twenty-three fires, the total loss from which was $1415O. There were four big fires that month. The first one was at the Hotel Bronson and the others were in Harry Alexs Main street block, Luke Meehan's Lafayette street block and F. E. Linke's storehouse in the rear of Bassett street.
 But Ono Man Badly Hurt.
 There was also bad fire on Over brook avenue which totally razed the house owned by Stanley Herbst. At this fire falling chimney struck Cap tain John O'Brien of Engine company No. and injured him so badly that he was laid up for two months. Cap tain O'Brien was the only fireman badly injured during the year al-
  pany fire Chief R.. M. Dame's wrist was dislocated when his automobile kicked as he was cranking it. It is in- teresting to note that no private per- sons were badly injured or. killed by fires to which the city department was called. The several people who have died during the year from burns did not receive their injuries from conf1agrations.
 February was a comparatively quiet month for the firemen, there having been but fifteen alarms. The loss was but $54S. While March had the greatest number of alarms there were no serious fires. There were sixty-one calls that month and the loss was only $2,4S1. Two bad fires were num- bered among the thirty-five during April. There were at Fred BeIoin's Main street block (Hoimes & Hoff- man's) and at the old Cooke proper ty at the corner of Kelsey street and Rocky Hill avenue owned by John Pristilinkis. The damage during April totalled $12,22S.
 Other Bad BlaZes.
 A bad fire in Troops resta urant in Hatchs Church street block was the worst of the thirteen fires during the | month of May. The loss during that l month was $3,527. The month of July | which in past years had generally | seen the largest number of alarms | saw the least number this year for | there were only nine calls and the loss l was only $322 August also had nine | fires, the loss being $1675. In Sep l tember there were fourteen fires for | a loss of $292. October saw twenty fires, but the loss was only $1,259.
 There were two big fires in Novem- Der. The Adkins Printing companys plant on Church street was gutted and a house at 42 Olive street was also | badly devastated. There were nine teen fires during the month, but as most of them were small ones the total damage was only $7,S05.
 Ss,OOO Fire Last Night.
 Including last night, there had been sixteen alarms this month. By far the biggest fire was the one which ruined William T. Sloper's Lexington street residence. The other fire of a serious nature was the spectacular blaze at Humason & Beckley's last evening. The fire was in one of the street buildings and started in the stock room on the sec ond floor where large quantities of celuloid used in making knife han dles were stored. The origin of the 1 fire is not known. The smoke from the burning celluloid was pungent and thick and hindered the firemen greatly. The smoke is what made the fire so spectacular and gave req son to believe that the blaze was more dangerous than it really was. The automatic sprinklers and the water