Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-01-08
i IS. PUBL1sHEp DAHL
81 Alsxsndrie Gszssss uurporstai'pnn'
ROBERT S. BARRETT, President
and General Manager.
HOWARD W. SMITH, Secretary and
: Treasurer.
Entered at the Postottcs OF Alezan
dria, Virginia as second class matter
THE FIRE IN
DEL RAY.

The fire in Del Ray, on the con
fines of the present city of Alexan
d,ia, early yesterday morning, by
which two persons lost their lives
brings to mind the fact that in the
recent annexation proceedings this
city claimed that its northern limits
should extend beyond Lloyd's avenue
near where the conAagration took
place. The Court of Appeals, how
ever, decided that the city should not
cover SO large an area. which left tn!
scene, Of the fire some distance be-
You'd our jurisdiction.
A midnight alarm of fire always
causes terror but in mid-winter at
four O'Clock in the morning when
snow is flying, it is still more serious
to find the house ablaze with no means
of extinguishing the flames. Such was
the experience in Del Ray. The new
town is in Alcxandria county, and
few fire MIGRANTS have been, as yet.
placed there; hence the Alexan-
dria fire department was unab!e to
render assistance.
Had the city limits been extended
to take in that area and as TAR north
as the Poor House. as we petitioned,
the installation of fire protection IN
the place would have been one Of the
first things accomplished. Almost as
soon as certain outlying territory was
cedel to this city, Council appropriat-
cd money to purchase a combination
automobile fire and chemical engine
fol: use in the new territory, This ap.-
paratas is now ready for use in case
ofspeed:
Fortunately there was little, If any
wind, early yesterday morning. =, Had
old, Boreas: been. active, as he is often
: at t.,ial season of the. year.: the fire,
which consumed but four houses,
might have: been even more serious;
1t is understood that some criticism
has been leveled at the Alexandria au-
thorities for their failure to send >.ap
engine to the fire. According, to Chief
:Cironau he received notification Of
the fire, from the police department
early yesterday morning. He:said
that the advices he received were
indefinite and the. exact location was
not stated. Furthermore he said, that
he was not informed as: to whether
there were any water plugs. in that
section of the county and if Il su!li-
cient water pressure could be secured.
He therefore felt that the Alexan.
dris engines would be useless. Ken
meth w. Ogden, Que of Alexandria S
most; valiant volunteer firemcn, re-
spondcd to the alarm, and Sergeant
Wilkinson, in charge OF the police
station, sent three policemen to the
fire, with instructions 10 do what
IT,. o,,,a T.
they couid.
Unfortunately the new automobile
combination engine had not been turn
cd over to the city else it could have
been sent and used with coed effect
It iis needless to say that Alex
andria is always willing 70 help its
rcighbors in the county in case 81
fire OF any other calamity. TIE Alex.
sndria department has Responded u
blazes outside Of the city limits or
many previous occasions and al
doubtless continue to. do 50 despite
the fact that many residents Of
Alexandria county testified in the ar;
Eexatipn proceedings that they ta.'
i1o;need Of Aleasttatia'a FIRE or poles
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