The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-01-04
.ROS5LYN* SAVED
IN 100000,
TANKF|RE

Failure of oil companies having
storage tanks near the scene of last
nights 100000 blaze in the Penn
Oil Company's plant in Rosslyn, Va,
at the Virginia end of the, Key
bridge, to obey the Arlington county
fire regulations is menacing the
entire town of Rosslyn, 1t was stated
today by Commonwealth Attorney
William c. Cloth.
Only the fact that the wind blew
the flames away from the huge
storage tanks nearby, prevented q
mated that 100000 gallons OF
radius of a half mile Of the fire.
After an inventory Of what little
Is left of the plant, Paul Himmel.
farb, president of the company, this
afternoon raised his estimate Of the
loss to 100000.
The first estimate given out by
the officials placed the damage at
800, 900.
Violation Cited
Following a spectacular fire in the
Fem company plant about a year
ago the county board Of supervisors
passed an ordinance requiring that
all gasoline storage tanks be sub
merged or surrounded by water
filled meats. This ordinance has
not been enforced, the common.
wealth attorney declared.
Appointment of a fire marshal to
maintain rigid enforcement Of the
nrHfVNn
Cloth. He said the appointment had
been asked unanimously by the
Arlington and Fairfax County Vol.
unteer Flremen'S Association.
The law also Is being violated by
the stabling Of horses in proximity
to the tanks, 1t was stated. -Four.
teen horses were in a stable IS feet
from the fire last night. They were
rescued with difficulty.
Lack of an adequate water supply
also increases the fire hazards at
the tanks. Last night, it was nee.
essary for the fire fighters to run
their hose lines to the Potomac
river and to pump the water nearly
a mile. 1t was nearly As minutes
after the fire was discovered before
a stream Of water could be turned
on the blaze.
The fire, which is thought to
have resulted from a short circuit
in the wiring system Of one of the
company's big tank trucks, was one
OF the most spectacular in recent
years. There was II explosions as
the tank trucks and small gasoline
reservoirs were ignited.
Two CARA oeS OS tonly ku,,oY,a $50,
eral. auxiliary tanks and a quantity
of machinery and supplies were
totally destroyed. Heroic action on
the part OF George H. Rogers, 1862
M st. N. W., a driver for the com.
pany, saved two trucks. He drove
them out under a barage Of burning
brands and blazing oil. risking
death. from an explosion at any
moment.
Waterman Spots Blaze
The fire was discovered by Robert
Howard, colored, "a years old, EN-.
ployed as Waterman. Before
Arlington county apparatus could be
warned the blaze had tremendous
Roadway and terrified residents of
the neighborhood, fearing explosion
or the huge tanks, called up all of
the fire departments for miles
around. Three Washington com.
panies were called out.
The entire Arlington County DO.
lice force, reserves from the Sew.
enth Precinct, and troops from Fort
Myer were sent to the scene to
handle the crowd Of more than 100.
600, which gathered within a quarter
Of mile of the fire.
Several persons were slightly in
jured in a stampede when an ex.
plosion sprayed shower of sparks
over a portion of the crowd. Thous.
ands of Washingtonians viewed the
blaze from the river front in George.
town