The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-10
FLAMES DESTROY
 !. JAFFE PLANT WITH LOSS OF $125,OOO
Building of Hide and Tallow Company Slightly Damaged. Bolt of Lightning Is
 Origin of Fire

The Jaffe Iron and Metal com- pany, occupying a three-story brick building at 211 Twenty-eighth street, North, was almost complete ly destroyed by fire, and the Bir- mingham Hide and Tallow company, in an adjoining three-story brick building, was slightly damaged~by fire, which is said to have originated when the rear of the building occu- pied by the Jaffe Iron and Metal company was struck by bolt of lightning.
 The fire was first discovered by watchman in the Jaffe Iron and Metal company building, J. Jaffe, sowner and manager or the concern, was in the front office. and turned in the sfire alarm at the watchman's summons.
 The entire stock of the Jaffe
 Iron and Metal company was de-
 stroyed. Nothing was saved. It
 was valued at approximately
 s75,00o. according to Mir. Jaffe,
 who also assessed the damage to
 the building alone at nearly s5o,
 900.
 Damage to the building of the Bir- mingham Hide and Tallow company, separated by wall from the de- stroyed structure, was slight. ac- cording to A. M. Taylor, head of the company Slight loss was incurred from water getting into the building, but the fire caused no damage. Thousands of dollars worth of hides were stored in the building. Very serious loss would have been entailed had the building been burned.
 It was pouring down rain at the time the alarm was turned Tn. All fire stations were sent 10 the scene at once. Suburban fire stations rushed into town, and were stationed at the central stations to protect the downtown district
 Water Tower in Use
 The new water tower which can throw several streams into burning building at one time, was in use for the first time since 1t was purchased several months ago by the city.
 The building occupied by the Jaffe Iron and Metal company was roaring mass of flames when the firemen arrived on the scene. They could not fight the fire from -he in- terior, and their efforts were di-' rected towards saving the building occupied by the Birmingham Hide and Tallow company.
 dn2hn streams of water were kept playing upon the roaring flames from the start. High winds and the start the fire had kept the firemen from get ting it under control for nearly 45 minutes after the alarm was turned in.
 The rear part of the building oc cupied by the Jaffe Iron and Metal company was filled with rags, old carpets and old automobile tires. These formed dense smoke which could be seen for several miles. A gas was also formed by the burning rubber which also hindered the fire men in their fight.
 Watched Building Burn
 MT. Jaffe watched his building burn from a lot across the street. After the firemen had it practically under control and he saw that the stock and also the house was almost a complete loss, MT. Jaffe turned 10 a companion and said he supposed that was the reward of lifetime of hard work.
 The building and the merchandise of the Jaffe Iron and Metal company about half of their value. A. M. Tay about half of their value
 Hundreds of people stood in the rain for nearly two hours to watch the fire. The operator at the switch board at The Age Herald was worked overtime by the continual calls cf business houses and residents of the suburbs who could see the smoke from that distance boiling up from the fire.
 Bremen Injured
 Several of the firemen sustained slight injuries while fighting the flames. Thirty minutes after the fire had been in progress the left wall of the Jaffe Iron and Metal company building fell to the ground with crash that could be heard for blocks.
 A group of firemen~ who were throwing a stream of water through the windows in the wall were al- N