Evening star., 1930-05-05
NINE BUSES LOST
IN GARAGE FIRE
$780, 900 Blaze Sweeps Ter
minaI of Arlington Coun.
ty Line.

Firemen Of 10 Northern Virginia and
Washington companies battled for more
than an hour last night to save the
Arlington County offices and garage OF
the Washington, Virginia and Maryland
Coach Company from complete destruc-
ton in q mysterious $50, 900 blaze. One
employe of the bus line was seriously
burned while flve other persons received
minor injuries.
The entire rear Of the large one-story
building housing the bus lines equip
located on Wilson Boulevard at Walnut
street and the entrance to Lyon Village
was swept by the fire while nine buses,
each valued at $1,000 were destroyed.
The ofilceS located in the front OF the
structure were saved with only slight
damage by smoke and water.
Lloyd Carter. "a. of Ballston, Va,
who was in a greasing pit working on
bus when the fire burst forth with q
sudden roar and ignited his clothing,
was brought to the Georgetown Univer-
burns Of the arms and legs and his
condition was regarded aS serious today
by hospital physicians.
The others injured are: Herman A.
Helfrich, member Of the Sd Cavalry,
stationed at Fort Myer; Robert Bailey,
10; his brother Joseph Bailey, 20, both
volunteer members of the Clarendon
Fire Department.; Vernon r. Williams
Of the Cherrydale Fire Department,
Elmer Reynolds of Ballston, Va, and
c. j. Justic Of Clarendon, Va, the
latter two employees Of the bus company.
Taken to Georgetown.
Helfrich, who entered the building
with the volunteer 6remen and helped
them fight the flames, and the two
Baileys were taken to the Georgetown
Hospital after being overcome by smoke
while Williams was given flrst-aid treat
ment by q physician near the scene for
a finger lacerated when hose coupling
struck him. Williams and Justic also
were treated on the scene for minor
cuts and burns.
The fire started between 1880 and 8
O'Clock in the rear room of the termi-
nal used for overnight storing of busses
while Carter was working beneath one
of the huge vans. Co-workers of Carter
In other sections of the building sud-
denly heard him scream, "Save me, save
me, save mel" and ran to the rear room
and saw Carter dart through Q side
door into the open and throw himself
into pool Of rain water sitting In an
excavation In an adjoining lot to ex-
sAA6 6A4sAA AAo A40AAAA8 VAVtAlAlBs 4G
room instantly became q furnace, with
flames cracking In every corner. Three
Of the bus line employees ran to Carters
aid, placed him in q machine and drove
him to the hospital, with Stewart Muse
Of 500 Il street southwest at the wheel.
Cash Is Saved.
approximately 500 of the company's
funds was saved by George Ballard, al
year-old night cashier Of log Commerce
street, Alexandria, Va, who was count
ing the contents Of the safe when he
heard Carter's screams. Stuffing the
money back into the fireproof safe, he
locked the strong box and ran toward
the rear room. Seeing the flames, he
raced back to telephone and called
tire apparatus from all of the surround
Ing communities of Northern Virginia
and Washington.
Mrs. Fred Perlee, who lives at Will
son Boulevard and Walnut street, op-
posite the garage, telephoned for the
Clarendon Fire Department when she |
saw the flames burst through the roof |
of the building.
The sky was illuminated for miles |
around by the flames, which were shoot |
ing so feet into the air when the first |
apparatus began to arrive. The STAG |
cato explosions of large bus tires kept |
up a constant din while f1remen un-
reeled miles of hose and began to play |
water on the flames.
Believing the explosions to be burst |
Ing gasoline cans, flremen from Balls |
ton, Clarendon, Alexandria, Fort Myer,
Falls Church, Cherrydale, Jefferson /
East Arlington and two WASH
ngton companies cautiously approacher
The building and took their lines to
vantage points. When the last Of the
explosions had died out, they entered
the building.
Tragedy Averted.
Training their hose over Q completely
1lled 10,0O0-gallon gasoline storage
;ank, located beneath the flooring near
he front end of the building, the volun-
;eer fire fighters prevented an explo-
ion Of the tank and ayerted what might
nave been one of the greatest tragedies
n the history of the county.
Employees of the bus company ran
INTO the structure just prior to the
arrival of the firemen and drove four
If the buses to safety before they were
forced back by the intense heat and
lanes. The other nine stored In the
'oom were destroyed.
Elmer Reynolds, driver for the COM
,any, and Justic, who entered the en-
,loyment Of the bus line on Saturday.
irove several of the vehicles out of the
ianger zone. Reynolds and Justic later
oined firemen fighting the FIRE from
,he roof and were overcome by smoke.
rhe two Bailey boys also fell uncon-
IciouS from smoke ana were driven to