Norwich bulletin., 1919-03-25
WESTERLY

Encouraged and strengthened by a
 strong breeze from the northwest
 small fire started in the rear of the
 Chapman farm from a cause not pub
 lIc,y known. burst forth into a seri-
 ous forest fire that spread with great
 rapidity in ;he section between the
 lost road and the Shore road and
 Mastuxet brook and Red Brook, Mon
 day morning, endangcring :he farm
 house on the Shore road and even the
 cottages at Pleasant Vie, s'each. A
 large tract of land was burned over. The Westerly. and Watch Hill Fire
 department fought the flames, aided l.y many volunteers. .tfEer the forest burning the flames came close to The Oaks, the farm house owned by Dr. John Champiin, then to the Saunders the Champlin and Clarke farms, and so close that the dwellings were scorched and small outhouses turned. Then the flames jumped the Shore road and swept across; the meadow grass to At lantic avenue. at Pleasant View, scorching the cottages ir tEe route anu setting fire to corners and roofs. In fact all the houses on the route were slightly burned. and would have bee\l completely destroyed b,.t for the aid of the Watch Hill and Westerly Fire departments. The fire did not cross | ,rlantic avenue to Pleasant View beach proper but conditions were threatening 1 for quite a. while. The fiIenen and r,any volunteers worked uceasingly for rnore than six hours, ,hefore the fire was under sufficient crntrol to save dwelling houses from destruction.
 The work of the Watch Hill motor driven triple combination -imerican- l LaFrance engine is comWcded by all ] who witnessed it's efficient work, es- | recially Pleasant View. Here the ! suction was placed in the l.ond back l of the Wigwam and near the trolley station, where all the sm;til buildings 1 n that section were ablaZe. 4 line 1 of hose 1000 feet in length was laid. and a powerful stream of water was available to. fght back the flames and
 save the beach cottages. Another line of 1000 feet of hose, Of the Rhode Is- l land Ones, was also attached to the
 IT odern pumping machine, and maned ] liy men of the Westerly department, l helped to prevent destructive work.
 Roth these fire apparatus wt're utiliz- cd in battling with tho fiames and took 1 final and victorious stan at Atlant1c avenue. The Alert Hook Snd Ladder
 company also rendered excellent ser
 vice, but unfortunately the truck ma i c.rinery became disarrangod and a | convenient truck was called 10 tow Ethat piece of apparatus. The loss is 1 q'ite extensive, hut it is infnitesimal 1 ir comparison to what i- might have i! been but fo" the efficiency of the
 Watch Hill fire appara tus. There is
 no fire service at Pleasant Flew, but 2 private hvdr&Iit near tile Collins ho-
 tel was utilized for a time during the
 fire in that section.
 With the Alert Hoo; n1d Ladde'
 tuck and tho Rhode Is,an1 Cnes host wagon at tlia Pleasant View fire. tht Cyclone wagon away getting wheel:
 cut down 90 as to. be fitted witt . standard tires Westerly lifc distric vas practically without fire protection
 The only protection was ousines , wagon laden witS frr hose and n
 horse to draw the load to a fire in cas l, one occurred. Shortly after to q : "l0ck. fire alarm wac sent i7 rom 17'
 21 at the corner of Grans+a st~7ot' e-7 N N'wton are1lue. fora fire T t'o >e0n1 l ecne rc~idenne of ChaI les 4 Sherman
 atur3llE thore was slow response, q ) al available working firesHnr were o , dvty at and near the beach, perhan
 s;2 miles distant Headed l>v Police 2 nan Michael Curtin: vnlun5aers haul
 ed the temporary hose wagon to th : scene of the fire. ana in creditabl