The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-03-08
FIRE DESTR0YES r.
FAIR BUILDINGS
GASOLINE EXPLOSION THROWS
g. BLAZING GOALS; LOSS
WILL EXCEED $4,000
Fish and Game Building 10 Completely
Destroyed; Entire Equipment Of
.o- Fire Machinery Called to
: Scene Of Disaster

Salt Iake-Fire destroyed more than
$4,000 in property at the state fair
grounds Tuesday afternoon, when a
blaze, originating in shed where an
airplane was stored, spread to adjacent
buildings before any fire machinery
could reach there. Within ten min
utes Of its breaking out, every piece
Of apparatus in the city was racing to
the flames. Shortly afterward, Assis.
tina Fire Chief knight requested Ft.
Douglas to dispatch Its fire fighting
corps to the assistance Of the city de-
partment.
This action was necessary because
Of the extent of the blaze and the fact
that q high wind blowing from the
lake threatened the larger buildings on
the grounds with destruction. As the
flames licked their fiery tongues about
the Manufacturers building, a desper-
ate effort to save that structure was
made, and last reports are that it will
escape with only superficial damage.
The Fish and Game building, the Mer-
chandise building and several hundred
feet Of stables, comfort stations and
lesser structures are completely de-
stroyed.
= A disconnected electric feed wire is
said to have given rise to the blaze.
The fame originated in shed where
an airplane belonging to Rex Smith
was stored. Four persons narrowly
escaped death in the explosion which
occurred when the fire reached the
planes gas tank. Frank Dordanet,
working on the plane, was severely
burned about one arm and shoulder.
Following the fire Dordanet explain
ed that last night he had disconnected
some lighting wires to realign and Sc
cure better lighting for his work, it
is said. This is believed to have made
possible the fire, although no official
opinion In this regard has been voiced.
Three others were working with Dor
danet in the airplane shed, adjacent
to the fish and game building. They
were unaware Of what was Transporting
until the burlap wrappings Of the
machine burst into flame. They leap.
ed to safety as the gas tank exploded,
and Dordanet sustained some severe
burns from the flying sparks.
With the explosion the wooden struc-
ture, its timbers aflame, was thrown
over a wide area and in this way the
blaze spread to the fish and game ana
other buildings. J. L. Horne, secre-
tary Of the State Fair association, esti-
mates the loss at in excess Of $4,000,
all Of which is covered by insurance.
Smiths plane, a twisted mass Of metal,
represents $4,000 loss, 1t is said.
When the blaze belched above the
timbers of the shed, where a moment
before they had been working, Smiths
rushed for the nearest tele.
phone and turned in an alarm. Time
of the blaze is fixed at AS o'clock.
Within few minutes every piece of
fire fighting apparatus in the city was
on Its way to the scene. A few min
utes later request was made that the
Fort Douglas equipment be rushed to
the fire.
Among the buildings absolutely
burned to the ground in the blaze are
the fish and game building, the mer-
chandise building, the educational
building, the dairy barns and stables,
Of the swineshed and con-
siderable section of the other stable
buildings. A comfort station and some
booths within the fire area also were
burned down.