The Washington times., 1924-05-27
0
CITY SEEN
IN AUTO
CRUSH
Engines and Officials Kept
Blocks Away by Motorists.
Regulations to BE Made

e i 81 I
The traffic jam, one " the
worst in the history of Washing
ton, which came last night stimuli
taneously with the sounding Of
second, third, fourth and fifth
ALARMS for the lumber yard fire
at Thirtieth and K streets north
west, may result in drastic action
to prevent a recurrence.
Fire chiefs and fire apparatus,
police patrols, and Commissioned
James r. Oyster, responding to
extra alarms, found their way
blocked by thousands Of auto
mobiles and some $4,000 pedes-
TRANS who crowded the streets
within ten. and twelve blocks of
the fire.
Chief Three Blocks Off.
Apparatus moved slow pace as
it neared the fire, and in many IN.
stances came to a complet stop, so
S0AAAsAsCO WCAO ILlS 6ITOGC8s OToOEEO d
Watson, fire chief, could reach only
within three blocks Of the blaze with
his automobile and was forced 70
run the remaining distance. Com.
missioner Oyster suffered the same
experience, walking five blocks to
the fire.
Chief Watson plans to confer
with Major Daniel Sullivan, super
intendent Of police, in an effort to
devise means to keep the streets
clear OF traffic when fire engines
are responding to alarms. The
chief said the traffic problem in
Dig fires presents q most difficult
problem to solve.
Motorists Disregard Laws.
Motorists, anxious to reach the
IRE, many times beat apparatus to
the blaze" Chief Watson said. 1.-THE
traffic jam presented q serious stu.
alton last night. Many machines
disregarded speed limits, paid no at
tentton to fire apparatus behind
them, and prevented quicker re-
Spouse Of many engines and trucks
to the fire.
1T win be difficult to devise a
workable regulation, although 1 am
going to confer with Major Sullivan
about 1t.
81 think the citizens OF Washing.
ton should cooperate with us when
there is a big fire. Every notoribr
ought to help keep the Streets clear.
They should not approach within
short distance OF a fire when they
know they are bound to be caught
In a traffic jam and be in the path
way OF fire engines and trucks
1nasmuch as only several streets
led to the lumber yard the traffic
Jam concentrated at two central
points. * street, the main thorough.
fare leading to the yard, was lined
and three deep. It was almost Inn
possible for apparatus to get by at
many points.
Hard Task for Police.
Police reached the fire a few
minutes after the first alarm was
sounded and reserves from all sec
lions Of the city were called in. But
there was a traffic jam before the
police came ana they could only un-
ravei the quickly increasing number.
OF machines within the streets lead.
Ing to the fire.
WHEN the pOllCO organized LnSlr
fire lines they kept machines six
and moro blocks away from the
fire. This helped considerable, but
streets seven. eight, nine and ten
blocks away were crowded. Auto
mobiles came from every section Of
the city.
One automobile, with four per-
sons, snealked in the police line and
drove directly in front Of the fire
before it was stopped.
Chief. Watson today commended
the firemen for their successful Of.
forts in preventing the fire from
destroying industrial Georgetown.
The lumber yard continued to
burn today.
The blaze Is under control, but
Andrew J. Sullivan. deputy fire chief.
at noon today, said It would take
the better part Of the day to ex.
-------------------~--------