The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1921-11-18
TEXAS UTILITIES LIGHT AND
ICE PLANT DESTROYED BY FIRE
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN AND PLANT WAS ALL
ABIAZE WHEN FIRST DISCOVERED
FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED PROMPTLY
The Fire Plug Was On Northwest Corner of the Square
and Long of Hose Had be Laid ard Cross Switch
Yards to Get to the Fne-Adoining Property Saved.

tuesday nlght, about IL .UU tho
entire ice and light plant Of the
Texas Utilities Company was de-
stroyed by fire, Of unknown origin.
When first discovered the flames
were flashing through the interior Of
the building, and soon the entire
structure was enveloped in flames
The alarm was Immediately turned
in and the local fire department
were soon on the job. The distan e
from the nearest fire plug, which
was on the northeast corner Of the
square, and the fact that the hose
line had to be laid across the Santa
Fe yards, took more time chan or
dinarily, and by the time the water
was available the entire building was
raging mass Of fire.
The attention Of the firemen was
directed TO the south side Of the
plant which was the ice storage vault,
and which was close TO the Fuller gin,
and greatly endangered the latter
plant, which no doubt would have
burned had it not been for the faith
ful work Of the fire boys. Also n
number Of other buildings in that i'm
mediate vicinity were saved by the
heroic work Of the department, and
the boys deserve great credit for
their splendid work, and we are sure
their efforts are properly appreciat-
ed by those who know the situation,
and know just what they had to do
to accomplish what they did.
A long string of box cars, loaded
with various kinds Of merchandise
and products were in great danger OF
being destroyed and had it not been
for quick action on the part of the
operator at the Santa Fe Denot and
the switch crew, no doubt the loss
on the part Of the. Santa Fe would
have been heavy, while as it is, II is
very little, and that was caused by
the heavy explosion Of the amonia
tank at the plant which was severe
enough TO break window glasses in
the depot and other nearby build
ings. When this tank blew up it
also made its getaway from the
Flames, and although il weighed
about $50 mounds It was tossed
over across Broadway. into the gin
yard Of the Worth Gin CO.. a distance
Of about two blocks. and this relic
Of the fire is now being exhibited
at the fire station.
No statement Of the loss to the
Utilities Company has been made
public al this time, but we are sure
IL will amount to about 100000, and
the insurance is believed 90 be light
though not definitely known. II was
well equipped with light and ice
machinery. and many improvements
had recently been made in both the
light and iee equipment. The plant
is operated with crude oil. and we
understand that two cars Of this fuel
had Just been transferred from the
cars tc the storage tanks, and was
included in the loss, and also added
to the difficulty OF extinguishing the
flames. as water was Of little avail
against burning oil
H. L. Allen. local manager Of the
plant, told an Avalanche reporter
that considering the hazardous task
Of the fire department II is hard to
understand how they were 50 sue
ccssfu n checking the flames. With
absolutely everything against them
the men were not checked IN the
least in their attempt to control the
flames, and were on the job until the
last bit of danger Of anything else
becoming caught was abolished. /
cannot say enough in their behalf
he said.
J. B. Scott, general manager Of
the Comnanv. with headquarters at
Plainview. was here Wednesday, and
said the plant would probably be re-
built in a few weeks
This company has a high line from
Piainviow, which enables them TO
give their customers service, even II
the plant here is in ashes, and it
only took them a few hours 70 get
all their customers back in full serv-
ice from the Plainview plant, and
their PROMPT service in this instance
Is greatly appreciated by the people
here who are on their lines.
They also were able 20 supply their
customers with ice on regular sched-
ule, and without any delay at all.
and we are sure that their service
along this line viii not be less eff
cicnt than heretofore, and that the
new plant will be In operation IN
time for the next summer season.