Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-22
Marshal Nicholson Finds Blaze
Was Due to Spontaneous
Combustion.
TAR PAPER AND WOOD
HELPED SPREAD FLAMES
Destruction of Starching Machines
May Make Much Hand Work
Necessary Each Day.

Fire Marshal Nicholson yesterday
afternoon made a careful investigation
of the fire that occurred in the rag
laundry at the bureau of engraving
and printing and fixed the damage at
about $4,000. He estimated that the
damage to the building amounted to
about $4,000, while the machinery and
other contents suffered about $4,000
damage. The fire, he said, no doubt
was caused by spontaneous combus-
ton and started in one of the drying
machines.
The fire marshal was making an in
vestigation at the Industrial Home
School when he saw the dense clouds
of smoke rising from the bureau build
ing fire. He was satisfied that the fire
department had received call. he said.
and he followed in the direction of the
smoke until he reached the scene of
the fire.
Firemen who worked in the building
expressed surprise at the use of SO
much timber and tar paper in its con-
struction, and when the flames attack
cd the upper timbers it was impossible
to save the roof. Chief Wagner re-
sponded when the second alarm was
sent in, took charge of the f1refghters
and directed their movements
Originated in Drying Machine.
It is stated that the fire started in
ore of the drying machines, where rags
used by plate printers were being dried
and starched. The fire marshal sug-
gested that washing probably did not
remove all the oil from the cloths and
that the intense heat in the machine
was responsible for igniting them.
One of the sixty men employed in the
building opened the door of one of the
machines and was greeted by an out
burst of fame. He was unable to close
the door to confine the blaze. By the
time the bureau fire fighters got at
work the flames were beyond their
control.
At no time. it is stated. was the new
bureau building in danger. although
the burning structure was near enough
to the big building to enable bureau
employees to throw a stream of water
from the roof of that structure to the
roof to the burning laundry.
1t is stated that the building will be
reconstructed without delay, and it is
probable that an extra force will have
to be employed to do the laundry work
Fully 10000 rags are used in the bu-
reau each day, it is stated, and the de-
may make it necessary to 60 much of
the work by hand until new machinery
Is obtained.
Other Losses by Fire.
Fire of unknown origin this morning
shortly after o'clock threatened the
destruction of the Cardozo Manual
Training School, LIST and I streets
southwest. An alarm from box 424
summoned several companies of fire.
men to the building, and the quantity
of smoke in the structure suggested
the possibility of serious confiagra-
ton.
Firemen quickly found that the fire
was in the carpenter shop, on the first
floor. They attacked the fire from the
several entrances to the big room,
quickly got it under control and pre-
vented it from spreading to other parts
of the building.
4 careful examination of the building
made by policemen and firemen failed
TO disclose the origin of the fire. The
loss was placed at $500.
Fire in the house of William Thorn
as. 1913 B street northeast, yesterday
afternoon did about $500 damage The
fire was of unknown origin, the police
reported.
\ small fire occurred in the house of
William Jones, 10S 18th street north
east, yesterday afternoon. Ten dollars
damage resulted.