New Britain herald., 1926-06-11
Squad Meets With Ac- cident While Rushing To Blaze In Shuttle Meadow Shed.
Car Driven by Mrs. James W. Lawrence Strikes Rut-Loss by Fire in City Property Estimated at $2,OO0.

speeding along the narrow road
 that bounds Shuttle Meadow lake in
 vain attempt to get a volunteer
 fire fighting squad to the scene Of a spectacular blaze that destroyed a
 wooden storage building. Mrs. James
 W, Lawrence, wife of the caretaker at the reservoir, lost control of her automobile when 1t struck a deep
 ruL causing the machine to turn
 completely over with the four
 wheels spinning in ,he air and i'm prisoned herself and the men in-
 side it, about g o'clock this morn ing. Break Glass. Crawl Out Breaking the glass in the winter top, Mrs, Lawrence and the men escaped practically unhurt George
 Renshaw, whose left arm was la cerated being the only one who re- iquired medical attention. He was treated at New Britain General hos pital Mrs. Lawrence and the others were severely shaken up and brris- cd, and it was some time nfter tbev made their way out of the over turned machine before they were able to fully realize the danger they had been in. Mir Renshaw was able to leave the hospital after his injury was dressed. He and the .otaer men were cutting trees near the reservoir when called. Loss Estimated at So 0On
 Chief W. ]. Noble of the fire de- partment Who directed Co. No. and the volunteers. estimates inc damage to the building and contents lat approximately $2,ooo. The chic, ordered Co. to the scene when tbe call was received at q;37 o'clock. believing the home or Philip Bar deck at Mountain Grove was on fire, as the cali for help gave Mountain Grove as the location. There is hydrant at Mountain Grove. which the chief intended to use. but on arrival he sent No. company back to their station and No 2 company connected the bumper with the canal near the lake, playing a good stream of water all over the burn ing shed.
 The cause Of the fire is unknown. but the theory is advanced that a quantity of paint stored in the build ing became ignited. The blaze spread to all parts of the shed with alarming rapidity and in few minutes after its discovery. it was apparent that nothing inhammable could be saved. Machinery and tools valued at $500 were practically destroyed. the paint vas burned be- yond salvage, and half a ton of hay and q wagon were destroyed. < horse was rescued, and q quantity Of wood. stacked against the shed, was partly salvaged, although heavily soaked by water.
 Flames Damage Trees
 The intammability of the paint and the hay lent a spectacular as peCt 10 the fire. The shed was an old building, one story high, and its timbers were dry and without heat resistance. The flames reached the roof and shot through, great tongues
 
 top, and, famed by a stiff breeze. they cracked and snapped at the branches of the large trees sur rounding the burning mass. All tho trees within reach of the flames were damaged and if is feared some may b. a total loss.
 Hundreds of residents iu tho -F,,,+ brt... .et sr.T, .,F the blaze and many hastened to the scene. The heat could be felt & long distance away and before the hremen arrived fear was felt for the dwelling, which is short distance away. Fortunately, however. the wind was favorable tu the firemen, keeping the blaze away from the house, Had tho sparks been blown towards it. Chief Noble believes the housr would have been destroyed, as the delay in summon ing the bumper. occasioned by the automobile accident. allowed the flames 10 make start that the fire men could not overcome. No. . company remained at ,ho fire until l2:$o o'clock
 Phone Quits at Wrong Time
 At the office of the water depart ment. information relative to iNe fire was not available. due To tho fact that the telephone connection 70 the caretaker's home IS out of order, Chairman William l.. Hatch 1f the water hoard wadc an tu- 'pection of tho scene Of inc fire this afternoon.
 By a freak Of fate. the telephone It the caretaker's house became out If order at about the time the Are broke out. NIr. Lawrence was tu communication with the water de- 'artment office at N:Go o'clock, 'hout half an hour before the nra vas discovered.