New Britain herald., 1925-03-30
BLAZE THREATENED
 MAIN STREET BLOCK
Firenen COnfne It to Cellar Of Kreee Store

Fire in the basement of the S. s. Kresge Co. at 1S3-1s5 Main street last evening caused damages of $s,- 900 and, mainly because of the great volume of smoke, gave the flremen a stubborn battle before 1t was sub- dued. Originating from an unknown cause in tho rear cellar where goods are unpacked, the fire gained head way rapidly in the wrapping paper there. When discovered by William Bulmahn, the night watchman at the Beaton & Caldwell Mfg. Co. in the rear of the store, the blaze gen. erated sufficient heat to break the rear windows of the basement and flames were issuing from the build. ing. Bulmahn immediately called the police. station and the fire de- partment was notified at 0:O4 o'clock an alarm, being turned in from Box 2 three minutes later when the first company on the scene discovered the seriousness of the blaze.
 A hose nozzle shivered the glass in a front door and lines of hose were quickly carried inside. where the f1remen encountered such denso smoke that they had difficulty in re- maining at their posts. The new smoke masks were called into use and proved highly satisfactory. Con- siderable difficulty was encountered In getting into the cellar, 1t being necessary 10 batter in a corrugated iron sliding door and wooden door in the rear of the store. A hole was chopped in the floor, of the store and water was poured into the cellar through this and through the rear.
 Lieutenant Frank Gilligan of Co. No. and Hoseman James Carroll were overcome by smoke and given first aid by two nurses who answered the call for a doctor made to the crowd of spectators. They were then taken home in the chiefs car, but their cases did not prove serious and they were reported fit for duty to- day.
 The blaze was confined 10 the rear end of the basement by the firemen and put under control within 45 min utes, the flames penetrating only to the edge of the row of bins in the cellar where a reserve stock valued at $50,000 is kept Easter novelties made of composition were destroyed and were responsible for the dense smoke. Only about $500 damage was done 10 the building, the basement ceiling preventing the fire from eat ing up 10 the main floor. The store has fine fire inspection record. Deputy Chief Eugene Barnes said to- day, and 1t is mot known how the blaze started.
 All fire companies except Nos. { and responded to the call and did fine work. subduing the blaze with out disarranging the stock on dis play on the first floor. Every show case remained intact after the fire, while a quantity of goldfish swan, tnharmed by fire or smoke, in their large glass container. Parts of the floor were soaked, but all damag, on the main floor was that caused by smoke, which also did damage in the Outlet Millinery Co. next door, both being closed today pending thl arrival of insurance adjusters.
 Traffic on Main street was tied Up by the lines of hose and the crowd which remained on the scene despite the cold downpour of rain. Trolley schedules were disrupted, and the Hartford and Chestnut street cars were rerouted back down Chestnut street.
 It Is a remarkable coincidence that the fire in the Woolworth and 10 cent store occurred just about a year ago, on March 9, 1924, at pre- cisely the same time on just such a drizzly Sunday evening.