The Arvada enterprise., 1918-05-09
Big Blaze Wipes
Out Berkeley Dairy

< One of the most disastrous fires
Of recent years in jefferson County
farming sections. was that which
wiped out two barns and quite a lot
Of feed and other dairy equipment on
The Howard Evans farm near Clear
Creek on Graves avenue, a mile
southeast Of town., last Thursday.
The first fire started about IL o.
clock in the hay NOW OF the COW
barn, from some unknown cause.
The men had just returned from
their routes and were getting ready
to milk the big herd of cows, which
about ninety head. The
cans were placed in the runway be.
tween the rows of stalls and In few
moments more the cows would have
been locked in their places. Smoke
was first seen emitting from the hay
NOW in which there was u quantity
of hay and straw, and the alarm was
telephoned to Fire Chief Edward
Richter of Arvada, while the little
group Of men started In to fight the
flames, which spread 80 rapidly that
1t was soon evident that tho building
was doomed.
! A band Of men went hurriedly to
the rescue from Arvada in Harry
-Plattner's and C. NJ. Duncan's cars,
but Ms there was no water pressure
to be had the apparatus wns left be-
hind. AS soon as it was certain that
the building which was already
burning, could not be saved, alton.
tion was directed toward snving the
other buildings nearby and their con-
tents. The furniture was removed
from the house, which stands about
100 feet away. and the contents Of
the horse barn which stood only II
few feet away, and along side the
COW basn, consisting of 35 tons of al.
falfa and half q carload Of North
Park hay. 500 WORTH Of chop (which
had been stored there only three days
previously were removed to places Of
safety.
"A bucket brigade composed of tho
neighbors and friends fought heroic.
ally to put out the flames and soon
had all other propcrt, apparently out
Of immediate danger
Tho furniture was put back In tho
house und the harness and other
things were carried back in the barn
and the horses We're all put ia the
barn about five o'clock for their eve
ming meal. A man WAS placed to
watch and the others wont into the
house for supper, thinking that ever
ything was safe. Suddenly a
strong gust Of wind came up and car
ricd spark into the barn and all
hands again ruHhcd to the rescue Of
the horses and contents Of the barn.
Mr.. Evans had great difficulty in get
ing two of the horses out us they
were stsmpedcd with fright, the fire
blazing W behind them. Mr.. Evans
cut the hnlter straps and was 10 near
" overcome with the smoke and heat
he was compelled to run out into
the open air, getting slightly singcd
In doing 30. Fortunately the horses
followed him. They were slightly
scorched on their hips and and one
hor.s'' m@in was burned OF.
In the meantime the furniture wss
removed from tho house again and
carried far Out into the yard. The
tirernen Of Arvada were on the scene
again. this time Mr.. Duncan and Hsr-
~ flnttncr dcyising the plan to use
the hose rrI n pump which was
hastily brought Hud installed Ia. the
creek and Nj Exams Ford car was
utilized Tor The motor power. The
plan worked admirably. But Il wns
too late to save the horse barn. ns IL
*ns n heap Vt burniy enbcrs In n
short time. Tho men worked, how.
ever, until II 80 TINT night In soak
ing the piles Of smoldcring hay and
debris 10 ~ to be sure there would
he no further danger TO the milk
housc close by and which wns quite
badly damaged, and also the dwelling
houxe.
M Evans bore up bravely under
the trStpR circumstances and by re.
moving thc cattle To Harvey Mem.
tsrfer's ham 10 milk them and thru
the extreme kindness and assistance
rendered by albthose who had any.
thing with which 70 aid him. he wsn
e.'ablsdto take care VI his customers
ip>1ood shape next morning.
The loss, which was only partiaTly
cAVAeAA hay fn.u IL asS tsv.,.snI s.s