The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-01-15
FIRE COMPANY RESPONDS
TO y FIRES DURING 1880
Practically All Fires In COrpO-
rate Limits of Oakland Extin-
guished With Small Loss
ORGANIZATION IMPROVES

were answered during the past year
by the Oakland Volunteer Fire De-
partment, resulting in very little loss
except in calls out of town where the
blazes had gained too great Roadway
before the department was notified,
according to report of George Ker-
ms, fire chief.
Practically all of the fires in the
corporate limits of Oakland were eX-
tinguished with small loss, the blaze
in the cellar of Hamill's Book Store
causing the most concern. Several va
cant and rundown dwellings were
consumed to such an extent that they
are now worthless.
Fire loss throughout the county,
however, was quite heavy, number
of barns, one saw mill, one coal tip
pie, three dwellings being completely
destroyed. Sixteen fires in the coun-
ty were reported where the local fire
department was not called.
Fires answered by the local depart
ment included the dwelling of Stanley
Coal Company at Crellin, housing
three families; damage, $500; cause,
overheated fue; February 4.
]. Albert Shaffer dwelling at Auro-
"a, w. Va, entirely destroyed on Feb
ruary 27; defective hue.
>Outbuilding at the home of Mrs. R.
Slider, Mt. Lake, March "a; destroyed.
Home of Mrs. Nanniene 7. Ofutt,
on March 30; interior badly damaged;
incendiary.
Vacant dwelling on west edge OF
town vacated by Alfonso Borelli;
practically destroyed; March 81.
Two brush fires at Mt. Lake Park
: during week of April IL.
Maybe home at Deer Park, COM
pletely destroyed May %.
Hamill's Book Store on June 10;
slight damage.
Dwelling (unoccupied) on Water
street, belonging to estate of George
Giessman; June %.
Gas explosion in basement at home
of Walter Janoske, July 81; no prop
erty damage.
Home of Howard Rheinhardt, Mt
Lake Park, August 10; no resultant
damage.
Monongahela West Penn bus back
fred and ignited on August 10; call
cancelled; no damage.
Grass fire at home of E. R. Jones,
October a; no damage.
G. A. Whorton residence on Sept.
10; no damage resulting.
Hen house at Paul Mitchell's home
on State road; destroyed.
Automobile at Third and Alder sts.,
Nov. 1; backfre; no property damage
Hay house belonging to Earl Fields
near town; destroyed on November 49,
Flue at Gordon McRobie home on
November 27; no damage.
T. M. Gilmore home at Crellin on
December 8; slight damage.
Ford coupe of VIM. McRobie, Dec.
2; extinguished.
Barn of Arch Spiker and cattle of
Owen Martin, near town, December
10; totally destroyed.
Members of the department fought
one large forest fire on August a, it
being between Mt. Lake Park and
Deer Park.
Sixteen Other Fires
There were sixteen other fires re-
ported to The Republican from differ
emit points in the county and included
barns of Raymond Beckman, North
Glade; Edward Stanton, Grantsville;
Jeff Burch, Blooming Rose; Bayard
Lohr, North Glade; John w. Herman,
Fort Hill; Thomas Mckenzie, Finzel.
Homes burned included those owned
by Jonas Glotfelty, McHenry, occu-
pied at the time by Mr.. and Mrs. Benz.
Savage; Raymond Beckman, North
Glade; L. X. Dixon, at Deep Creek
Lake; Mrs. W. L. Thomas, two miles
north of Oakland; John Peck, Sand
Flat; A. T. Watson, Deer Park.
The saw mill of H. V. Leighton in
the Ryan's Glade country was con-
sumed as was also the Victoria thea
tire at Bayard, the Wolf Den coal tip
pie at Shallmar and the Essex coupe
of David Hardesty.
Improvement in Department
During the past year the type "75''
pumper has been replaced by newer
model and in addition to that No.
80 5O0-gallon pumper, at a cost of
$500 was purchased.
The city hall has been remodeled so
as to give the organization more room