Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-16
SCORE Of F|REMEN
TRAPPED IN SEA
OF FLAMING OIL
Great Tank in Refining Plant
in Pittsburgh CoIIapses
in Raging Fire.
SPECTATORS BURNED
| IN SHOWER OF FLAME
Blaze Continues Unabated After Is
Hours of Tireless Fighting by
City Firemen.

PITTSBURGH. Pa, June IA
score of city firemen were trapped
at the Atlantic Refining Company's
storage yards when Il big oil tank,
turning since yesterday. collapsed
this afte rnoon. Two explosions, fol-
lowing the collapse of the tank.
showered flaming oil over an area of
two squares. All ambulances in the
city were summoned to the scene
Persons watching the progress Of
the fire were burned when they were
caught under the showers Of oil The
firemen who were trapped were at
work in the storage yards near the
tank. Without warning the big con-
tainer sagged and a moment later
the entire plant was a sea OF flames.
Ffremen attempting to rescue those
trapped found it difficult to get near
the yards because of the intense heat
and insecure footing
Burning fercely throughout the night
and resisting the efforts of all available
firemen and fire-fighting apparatus,
the fire was not yet under con-
troll fifteen hours after it was
| started when bolt Of lightning
struck an oil tank. The blaze had
consumed thousands of barrels of
oil and gasoline stored in huge tanks
at the plant, covering four city
blocks along the Allegheny river,
and burned a number of other build
ings' including the pattern shop of
the United Engineering and Foundry
company and the garage of the
Pittsburgh Bushed Steel Company.
The fire was burning early TODAY at
an estimated rate of $50 barrels an
h h and hremen had thrown up dirt
barriers in an effort to keen the
names from reaching gasoline reser
voir containing thousands of barrels
or fuel. No estimate of the total dam
| age had been made. but fire officials
said 1t would approximate a half mil
lion dollars.
Explosions Terrible.
A sea OF blazing oil spread over the
plant yard when the oil tanks co1-
lapsed, forcing f1remen to battle with
the blaze from a considerable dis
lance. Explosion after expIosion
rocked the district as tank after tank
let go in quick succession. driving
fremen back by the intense heat 9
the blaze swept high into the air in
great waves. Many were overcome as
the night wore on, but immediately
after one fireman gave way before the
terrific heat another took his place.
More than mile of hose was laid
about the plant. and scores of
streams of water battered relent-
lessly against the sea of flames with
out visible effect Through it all
there was but one major casualty.
Fireman James Graham was caught
under collapsing wall and injured
seriously.
a general alarm was sounded five
hours after the fire started, when the
first oil tanl, collapsed spraying
blazing oil throughout the district
and setting fire to many of the other
tanks. Responding to the general
alarm. a fire truck crashed into a
street car near the scene of the fire.
The shock Of the impact. the
sound of rended steel and the pail Of
black. low hanging smoke, combined
to excite the passengers as they
fought for the exits. None was seri-
ously injured. but two flremen were
hurt in the crash and the fire truck
demolished.