Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-22
OUT-OE-TOWN FIRE
COMPANIES HELP
Hiuh Praise Given Nearby
Towns for Aid in D. c.
Emergency.

Valiant aid Of the fire departments
of neighboring towns in Maryland and
Virginia saved what might have been
a serious situation yesterday afternoon
when the explosion and two serious
fires caused great strain on the city's
available fire-fighting apparatus ana
personnel Five towns in nearby Mary
land and Virginia helped repay the
CAPITAL the debts they owe the fire.
fighters of the District for the many
serious fires in outlying sections that
have needed the ever-available aid OF
the District Fire Department.
From Hyattsville, Silver Spring,
Bethesda, Potomac, Va, and Bladens-
burg yesterday afternoon came Volun-
teer f1remen to stand in" the city'S
empty station houses to serve as re-
serves in case they were needed while
81 engines and trucks of the city's
fire-fighting forces battled two serious
fires at other points which followed
the Seventh street explosion.
Strain on Police.
The explosion and two fires, with
their gatherings of huge crowds, also
put a strain on the reserve force of
the Police Department, nearly 100
policemen from practically all the pre-
cinctS of the city and from headquar-
ters and the Traffic Bureau being called
in for reserve duty in addition to the
regular reserves always available.
The explosion, the third and final
alarm for which was received at rs
o'clock yesterday afternoon, drew into
service II engines and three trucks.
Some of this apparatus was still working
at the scene of the blast when the five
alarms for the fire at First and Indiana
avenue came in. AS much as could be
spared from the scene of the explosion
was sent to fight the big fire, the eX-
plosion situation having been pretty we'll
in hand.
Is Companies Called.
With Is engine companies and four
trucks working on the First and Indiana
avenue blaze, Fire Departments in the
outlying sections of the city were being
shifted to present the best front pos
sible in case another serious blaze broke
out. Then came the offers of help from
the Fire Departments of the nearby
towns, and as fast as they came in they
were assigned to the stations of COM
panieS out on alarms.
The Hyattsville company was sent to
No. 10 engine house on Maryland ave-
nue. between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets.
The Silver Spring volunteers went
to No. "a engine house at Georgia ave-
nue. and Rock Creek Church road.
Bethesda fire fighters came into town
and were assigned to the empty No.
20 station house on Connecticut ave-
nue. between Ordway and Porter streets.
Virginia Volunteers.
The Potomac, Va, volunteers drew
the assignment at No. Is engine house
at Tenth and q streets southwest.
Bladensburgs company went to No.
~ y
streets northeast.
Meanwhile every clerk in Fire De-
partment headquarters in the District
Building was put to work rounding up
the off-duty firemen and assigning
them to duty at the various station
houses possessing reserve flre-fghting
equipment.
Within an hour after the last alarm
was received from the First street and
Indiana avenue fire, practically all of
the oh-duty flremen were in harness
and ready for action with apparatus
This front to the fire peril was pre-
Sented despite a further drain on the
departments equipment and personnel
by two-alarm blaze at North Capitol
and streets, calling for six engine
companies and two trucks.
BY O'Clock the local firernen had the
situation well enough in hand to dis
pense with the services of the out-of-
town firemen. They were thanked by
Fire Chief George S. Watson and or
dered to return to their home stations
Fire Chief Watson took personal
charge of the firemen's activities, both
at the explosion scene and at the First
street and Indiana avenue blaze, leaving
the scene of the explosion after most of
the debris had been removed.
The District fire chief today paid high
praise for the spirit shown by the out
of-town fremen. I'VE were left pretty
wide open after the f1ve-alarm fire at
First street and Indiana avenue, and
these men who came to help us might
have been badly needed had the North
Capitol and l. streets blaze been more
serious" he said.