New Britain herald., 1921-02-11
FACTORIES. CLOSED
 BECAUSE OF FIRE
Serious Loss at H. H. and H. &
 (. Plants

Officials of the Hart & Cooley com pany stated today that they would not be able to estimate the damage done to the combined heating plant of that company and of the Hart & Hutchinson Co. on Corbin avenue by fire last night until such a time as the insurance investigators had completed their in- Quiry. Neither could they place their finger upon the cause of the fire which attracted thousands of New Britain people to the scene of the blaze which practically destroyed the building wherein is installed the boiler which furnishes heat and steam to the plants. The concerns will be closed until Mon day while TepairS are under way, al- though it will take much longer to re- place the destroyed equipment. Heat is the only immediate need which de bars the plants from reSuming opera tions.
 Origin q Mystery.
 The night fireman employed in the heating establishment, when he was questioned about the origin of the blaze, stated that he suddenly perceived a fire rapidly gaining in intensity. Be- wound this he will not so. He does not understand where the blaze first caught. At S:45 D. m. an alarm was turned in and Engine Companies No. l, f, 6 and No. 2 truck responded.
 The firemen were greatly handi- capped by the escaping steam from the boilers which shot in great jets from the side of the burning building and it was some time before they could ap- proach the fire. They had to lay about SOO feet of hose in fighting the blaze and had but one hydrant to work from. Two streams were used.
 Barrels of Oh Afire.
 Although comparatively new, the building burned with great zest, making a torch to call a great crowd of curi- ous people from the streets of this city. It was not long before several thousand were crowded upon every vantage point. Barrels of oil caught the blaze and SprAad in miniature tor rents upon the outside of the building, while the popping of boiler tubes added a great deal of confusion to the scene. The roaring of steam kept up for at least a half hour until the water had been exhausted in the boilers. At 9:05 o'clock there was a hollow report as some explosive matter caught and d ring of smoke and ignited gas rolled into the air with most dramatic effect. Officials of the company state that the cause of this explosion may have been some gasoline stored outside the build ing. Shortly afterwards the piping and overhead parts of boilers fell from their supports into the cpals furnished by the collapsed walls and the roaring of steam was much intensified. All of this time the fremen were at their posts on either side of the building, despite the danger. Their hose was in adequate to make much progress, how ever, and it was not until the building was practically destroyed that they had it under control.
 Loss Put at SIO,O0O.
 Fire Chief Noble stated that the damage would probably amount to the neighborhood of $10.OO0 and is of the opinion that the boiler proper may be saved after the installation of new tubes. A further effort to trace the origin of the fire is being made.
 In attempting to get the apparatus from No. into the street it was found that the motor was not acting properly and the men of the company were taken to the fire in a jtney which was placed at their service by the driver and owner.