The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-05-12
A BAPTISM OF FIRE.
The Spokane Hotel, in the Business Sec
tion Partly Destroyed.

The Spokane Hotel, in the Business Sec
tion Partly Destroyed.
lust about 6 o'clock Wednesday evening
Ismoke was discovered issuing from the
roof of the Spokane hotel. the large three
Istory frame building at the Northwest
lcorner of Railroad avenue and Main street
land the town was thrown into consterna
tion by the hoarse voice of the fire siren
| Wnat made the alarm and evidence OF
fire more appalling was the prevalence OF
very stuff wind from the west. threaten
ing the entire business section. Within an
Incredible brief period Main street was
crowded by almost the entire population,
and ready hands commenced moving goods
and furniture from what appeared to be
doomed buildings. Far quicker than could
ne expected the fire department was on
the scene, and the work performed demon
strated the advantage of organization.
with little excitement the tiremen got the
apparatus into action under the direction
of chief McMahan Two leads of hose were
iaiu from the hydrant at the corner of
| itaiiioad avenue and Main street. and
Two leads from the hydrant at the corner
Iof First avenue and Main street. In addi-
tion to these four heavy streams, they
! threw a deluge of water into the build
ing the chemical engine got on a stream
which was very effective in checking the
| lla!nes. The firemen carried the hose into
| the third story and on the roof and with
| In few minutes 1t was evident that the
fire was under control, and in less than an
hour of hard work the fire was entirely
distinguished.
As stated above the Spokane hotel is a
very large three story frame building. dry
as tinder. and when the flames broke out
| of the roof. famed to fury by an unusu-
ally heavy wind. there was not a person
present that did not expect to see the en-
tire building consumed, and a number of
lothers in the immediate vicinity. The work
lof the department cannot be too greatly
praised. Fortunately for the town the
tive units only three weeks ago. The hose
companies have been diligently practicing
for the race that is to take place during
| the irrigation celebration and were in
splendid shape to respond to a call to
Iduty and knew how to handle the appa-
iatus at fire. 1t is almost certain If it
tire could not have been handled as it was.
The firemen worked without the usual
aimless excitement so common in country
towns when fires break out. and the fact
that flames were confined wholly to the
roof and attic is ample proof of the excel
lency of the work. Not thing was touch
story Each and every individual member
of the department did his duty.
The building was owned by George De-
yon and he carried about $4,000 insurance,
$1,000 ON the building and 81 500 in the
National Union on the furniture. j. A.
;lackler carried the insurance on the fur
was in companies represented by l.. l..
Work. but as Mr.. Work is in Spokane it
could not be learned what companies held
the loss on the building. while the loss by
fire and water was considerable on the
furniture. AS much damage was done the
building by water as by fire. as an enor-
nous volume of water was thrown on the
building. fs4, Z n
Tho goneral supposition Is that the fire
caught from a spark from chimney. as
when first discovered smoke was coming
out of the roof around the chimney on the
main building. near the front. The roof on
from the chimney is almost entirely burn
ed off. while the flames hardly broke
through the root, on the north side of the
building. 1t is alleged by members of the
family that there was no fire in the build
ing. If that Is correct. then the fire must
have caught from an electric wire.
Notes.
The real estate office of the Oroville
hotel on the north, and is one of the hand
soonest fitted up offices in the county.
When the flames rolled over the roof of
estate office was doomed and the crowd
commenced carrying the contents of the
building to safety: The. big room was
heavy safe being removed. The next day
the premises looked as though Zeppelin
bomb had wrecked the interior Of the
The widest and stiffest wind that has
visited the valley for year swept down
out of the west all the afternoon, in SONS
tunately this wind was dying down just
at the time the fire broke out. 1t does not
seem seem possible that the fire could have
nous damage had it broken out an hour
earlier.
The Chief desires to express his praise.
appreciation and thanks to the chemical
crew nozzle men. hydrant men, hood and
ladder company in particular and the en-
tire fire department in general for Their
prompt response to the call for duty, and
the excellent service performed.
1t is little short of crime to drive
oyer lines OF hose during a fire. and in any
city person so doing would be instantly
arrested and heavily fined. An ordinance
passed and rigidly enforced Any damage
to hose at critical period might entail
thousands of dollars in damages.
!, The water system stood the strain of
supply in the well and reservoir. Engineer
Hoose stood steadfast at his post at the
pump house. and states that he could have
turnished supply of water for "a hours
No one but those within the building
could have any idea of the amount OF
water that was poured upon the fire. much
OF It wasted, of course. owing to the diff
Guilty experienced at first getting directly
at the flames. Water stood to the depth or
several inches on the upper floors. and a
cataract flowed down the. from, stairs.
building wet down with a garden hose
but after the streams of water once reach
ed the attic all danger Of the fire spread
ing had passed.
The showing made by the water system
and the department proves that Oroville
is well equipped to handle any fire that
could visit the place; Next to. the old
Peerless hotel the building burned was the
greatest menace to the town.
It Is not known what Mr.. Devon will do
with the premises. If the authorities do not
prevent he may repair the building.
The importation OF contraband goods of
la liquid nature from across the line is