Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-05
HREMEN COMBAT
STUBBORN BLAZE
Hard Work Saves Mrs. Helen
Rssss's Homo From Threat
sned Destruction.


The most difficult fire the new de-
par,mont has mad 10 combat since Its
Inception last "Wednesday night, oc-
surr,d about ?1S o'clock this morning
IN the home of Mrs. Helen Reese. at
sos West sixth street. when flames
were discovered In n clothes closet In
= second story room. Mrs. Reese had
rctlccd the odor OF smoke and started
TO investigate. she traced II To the
second iloor and found the fire In the
clusct.
She ran 20 store In the neightor
hood and telcphoned the police. En-
zine Company No. s and Truck Com
pany No. were dispatched to the
scene, and when the fircmen arrived
they found the flames had spread TO
tho woodwork about the room. They
tore out the burning clothes from the
closet and then with hand cNtinguish-
.rs, they managed TO suhduc the fire
before u could spread to any other
part of the house.
Assistant Fire Chiet Tazcwell was
IN command az the fire and he esti-
mated the damage 90 the property at
$500. covered by insurance. In the
at $500. which was practically de-
stroycd and which was not insured
Among other articles cf wearing APP
parcl was n 5000 fur coat. which was
ruined
Assistant Chief Tazcwen could not
attribute the blaze 60 any definite
cause. ilo found n scratch pad on the
door for matches and one supposition
~ that someone struck q match there
and a spark from Il fell among the
clothing. II was only by the hardest
KIND of work that the flrcmen prevent
rd the flames from cnveloping the
entire house.
About 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon
Engine Company No. was called &c
the homo of Harrison eileen, at 92S
Lowering avenue. when fire was dis
covered IN the nue. The new method
of dumping coal down the Chimne,
wns applied and this cxtinguishcd IN,
hlniv without any trouble. The dam.
hge Co the property was small
All tho property Of the volunteer
companies. except that ~ the ol,
Liberty company has been transfer
red 60 the city. at least the deeds ar,
hNfNN ~ w wv hfAAAA eNAH AAiflf AS tnt
city has the money to pay for tn,
buildings. The Liberty company ha,
been delayed IN making its transfer
because its charter had to be renewe,
before u could deliver the deed. Thit
matter probably will be cleared up to
daV.
Several disquioting and uncompli
mcniary reports regarding the new
department have come TO the motto,
Of the officials and investigation hs
shown that all of them are unfounded
Who started them. or why, has no
been determined. II was said nv
mon had quit last week and whei
ordered to clean up the engine hous
whore they were on duty. II was ais
said one man had become intoxicate
and assaulted his lieutenant. Non
ot these things happened officials @
the department say, and they canno
understand whv such reports woul
be circulated about the department.
Discipline Is TO be strictly enforce
OF all times by the officers In tn
IRE houses and at fires whore tn
men are working. II n now vastly diff
rcrcnt from the old volunteer system
when tho fremcn were PRACTICAL
thoir own boss. even al n flre. lnsuh
ordination will not be tolerated fror
any member Of the department an
infractions OF rules and disrespect "a
suporiors will bo severely punishe
and may hring dismissal.
Wire Chief Luts said everything
working smoothly IN the new depart
mont and as time goes on he expect
there will be n constant improvement
llo II more than plcsced with IN
showing being made by the men an
fcols the city has first-class ir
nghtlng machine for It's efficient pre-
lection.
u IN the aim of the FIRE chief TO pu
cut fires with as little use of waite
ne possible, thus saving much proT
crty and reducing the annual fire los
Frequently IN the past. 10 was pointe
cat. moro damage has been done b
water than fre. Modern methods no
followed eliminate much OF this
Fire Marshal 4. Morton Ainscow {,
dhy cautioned the residents of n
danger OF nrc In thawing out froze
water pipes. Ills inspection Of proper
ties FOR the removal OF FIRE risks
progressing rapidly The inspector
have not encountered any opposite
and Ind everyone ready and willir
90 comply with their orders