The New York herald., 1921-03-14
40 BUILDINGS BURN
AT CAMP MERRITT
Six Structures Blaze Up Sim
ultaneously and Others
Soon Catch.
LACK OF WATER SERIOUS
Whole Plant Endangered
Riverside Drive Turns Out
for Sight at Tenafly.
LACK OF WATER SERIOUS

Fire started simultaneously last night
in six buildings in the southwest sec
ton of Camp Merritt. at Tenafiy, \. j.,
and by midnight had spread to thirty
four other structures, all Of which were
of wooden construction and had been
in use as barracks or hospital wards.
The entire forty We're destroyed with
a loss of between $4,000 aSd $4,000.
At two o'clock this morning the fire
was under control, but owing 70 the
lack of water there was still danger
that the flames would spread and de-
stroy the entire camp. The burned
area was from Hickory avenue north
to Madison avenue and from Chestnut
street to Knickerbocker avenue.
The fire was unusually spectacular
the flames and smoke mounting high
and lighting up New Jersey for sew
eral miles around The heavy glare of
the fire was seen from New York by
hundreds of persons. who lined River
side Drive TO watch the towering,
wavering columns Of smoke and flame.
Several thousand persons living In the
vicinity OF Tenafly and other New Jer-
sey towns went to the camp by foot,
trolley car and automobile, and the
crowd became so great after half hour
or 90 that II threatened TO hinder the
work OF the firemen.
According to reports reaching the po-
- T..f1a nd nth IIqfEpv
cities. Camp Merritt. which was prln-
cipal demobilIzation point for American
troops returning from Europe. is now
deserted save for a few watchmen left to
look after Government property. These
men turned out to fight the flames as
soon as the fire was discovered, and ap-
paratus was sent from several New Jer-
sey cities. but the fremen were able to
do nothing because OF lack OF high water
pressure. The nearest hydrant Is In
Knickerbocker avenue. almost a quarter
OF mile from where the flames were
raging, and although a line of hose was
attached to this, the small single stream
Of water had little effect. The only
Are apparatus able TO do anything
against the flames were several chemical
engines, but their work was of little
avail.
Many of the buildings that were on
fire, as well az many others in various
parts OF the camp. had been sold TO
contractors and were being demolished
for the lumber. All the burned build
lngs were two stories. each able to ac-
commodate about hundred men.
More than twenty families living about
Il hundred yards behind the burning
buildings were ordered by the firemen
tC leave their homes. which they did,
carrying with them most Of their be1
longings. the firemen helping 10 remove
furniture from the houses. Al that
time the dwellings were in little 81 no
danger, the order being a precautionary
measure.
II was feared that the wind might
change and the fire spread 10 the houses
II which case II would have been impos-
slbe for the firemen to save tnelu
Many OF the families returned to their
homes after the fire had been put under
control or had entirely destroyed the
barracks near their houses.
The forty buildings destroyed were
owned by the Harris Bros. Company
OF Englewood. which had bought them
from the Government sor the lumber
Many were being demolished. and IN
rlany cases the boards and lumber rleo
in front of them could not be carried
away in time 70 prevent its destruction.
Watchmen and the police from nearby
towns after investigating were not aole
to learn the origin OF the Are Accord
ing TO the police there was no heat OF
light in any OF the buildings when the
fires started. Fire departments from an
the surrounding New Jersey towns
answered the alarm