The Alaska daily empire., 1922-03-10
APARTMENTS ON BASIN ROAD 90
 UP IN FLAMES
Gasoline Torch Explodes in Hands of Workman
 Apartments Total Loss.

The double bungalow apartments on the Basin Road. known as the DeVighne Apartments were totally destroyed by fire early this fore noon.
 The fire was caused by the ex- plosion of a gasoline torch in the hands of A. M. Claire, contractor caused by the breaking of a small pipe connecting the can with the flame of the torch.
 The members of the Juneau Fire Department were quickly on the scene but owing to the apartments, burning like finder, being practl- cally enveloped by the flames and doomed to destruction, the water was turned on the surrounding buildings to keep them from eaten ing fire. This action was successful.
 Water was pumped directly from the reservoir at Eighth and Basin Road.
 Fire Starts.
 A. M. Claire, contractor; S. G. Stevens and A. Bartlett were em- ployed at the apartments preparing to move them about 25 feet east on Bason Road to give them better foundation. The buildings were practically on 40 foot stilts, and lower ground situated east of the old location was to be the new ste for the apartments
 Claire and his assistants were tearing out the water and plumbing connections preparatory to moving the apartments. This morning the men were discOnnecting iron sewer age pipes. One pipe remained ob- durate and a gasoline torch was be- ing made ready to melt the lead soldering. Claire placed fluid in the lighting apparatus of the torch, holding the torch between his knees. He turned the valve to ignite the torch flame when the small pipe broke and the flame exploded the torch, throwing gasoline and gas in all directions. Claire was burned about the left side of the head and his hair was singed. The flying gasoline set fire to that portion of the basement of the eastern bunga- low. Claire started to beat the flames and Bartlett ran into the residence of John Strom, on the west side of the aparements, securing a small pail of water to eXtinguish the flames. Returning to the scene of the fire he partially doused the flames and returned for another pail of water Before he was able to get back the flames had started again and were spreading rapidly along the dry ceiling and soon the base ment was mass of roaring fire.
 Fire Alarm Sounded
 Stevens rushed to a telephone and sent in the alarm. Claire and Bart lett, seeing that further efforts were useless, ran up the stairs from the basement and to Basin Road. Claire's coat was a mass of flames and these were put out by beating the coat against snow.
 The apartments burned rapidly and soon after the Fire Department
 
 oughly enveloped by flames that it was seen that saving them was i'm possible and attention was paid 10 surrounding buildings which were beginning to smoke from the in tense heat of the fire.
 About 20 minutes after the fire started the structure collapsed and fell into the low hole beneath. Water was poured upon the flames and the mass was soon smouldering debris.
 Built in 1915.
 The DeNighne Apartments, owned jointly by Dr. H. c. DeVighne and J. T. Welch, the latter now being in Texas, were built in 1915. The apartments were originally two sep arate buildings, bungalow built, with basements, about 32 by 40 feet, each containing two apartments The buildings cost approximately $2.700 each.
 Several weeks ago MT. Welch wrote to pr. DeVighne and asked him to make some arrangements for renting the apartments as they had been vacant for some time. pr. De- Nighne planned to make the two buildings into two apartments, and install pipeless furnaces and electric