The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-02-12

The carelessness of some I'M
known person in tossing lighted
cigarette or match into the cell
lar of a. Bronson street was re-
spinsible for the damaging fire.
which broke out in the six family
tenement block at that address and
causing a loss of over $4,000.
Fire Marshal D. J. Lahey, Liuet
Joseph Stevens and State Trooper
Victor Clark of Beacon Falls head
quarters investigated the fire.
An assortment OF rubbish and
the parking of several baby car
riages in the front hallway of the
clock, were commented upon by
the fire marshal in his official re-
port of the fire. Several tenants
OF the building were trapped by
smoke in the upper tenements and
had to be taken down by laddrs
The marshals report, is as fol-
lows:
On Tuesday February 6. 1884.
at or about the hour OF 10:4O p.
M. fire was discovered in the
APARTMENT building at A Bronson
street. owned and controlled by
Mrs Sadie Danen, wife of Joseph
Danen of 259 Pine street. The fire
department was first called official
Nv at 1O:48 .. m. by telephone.
The companies detailed were En-
zine Co /, Engine Co No 8 and
Truck Co No 2. Captain Martin J.
Campion. as acting deputy was In
charge Of this detail. At 1885 y.
M Box 2S1 was pulled at the re-
quest of the acting deputy. This
alarm brought the department,
chief and Engine companies NO =
and 10, along with Truck co NO
3.
The building was fully occupied
with six families, to wit:
First floor, west-Samuel Wolo-
zin, 6 in family.
First floor, east--Maur1ce blnk-
elstein, three In family.
Second floor, west--Isador Jack
in, three in family.
Third floor, west-Mrs JACOB
Gilden, four in family.
Third floor east-Jacob Felh-
stein, three In family.
There are six furnaces In the Gel
lars, but only three OF this NUMBER
were in use. Two range oil burners
were used, along with one coal
range. At the time of the hre var
ious family members were In peo,
asleep.
Apparently, Mr. Wolozin was the
first to discover the fire. He was at
his radio In the first floor when ne
heard q slight explosion, followed
by n odor of smoke, which reacn-
ed him by. reason Of the open par
titions from cellar to attic. He
aroused his family, and then
shouted a warning to the peaopie
Above, after having notified nre
headquarters. Six gas meters, with
lead service connections, attached
to 1 IL inch service main, were
located in the main runway OF the
cellar, almost directly under the
main stairway. The explosion lifted
the tops completely from two OF
the gas meters, and the flame itself
melted the lead connections. Gas,
of course, escaped, and permeateo
the cellar, and front part Of the
building. The fire seemed to run
more westerly than easterly, ana
along the floor joists to the open
partition on the west side, clear to
the roof. Under the stairway was
badly burned, yet the stairs re.
NAMED intact. Great volumes or
smoke filled the cellar and main
entrance, blocking off exit for the
tenants by this way. Firemen, how
ever, made their way to the upper
floors, and by means Of department
ladders carried several to the
A sample Of some Of the rubbish
we found in the cellar rear fol-
lows: Five bushels of ashes, old
wooden cabinet, old trunk. several
cloth bags, pair off old rubbers pc
tween floor joists and inner walls
of the side. A~1arge wooden store
counter, 10 feet long, with SIX
painters ladders and some lumber
were found In the main runway.
There were also two mattresses
with paper covering found In the
center.
In the front or south end Of the
cellar, Just where the fire started,
we found parts Of old beds, mat
tresses, cloth coverings, pieces of
old linoleum, can Of tar box among
q pile of waste papers, two jugs
with the odor of kerosene, a so
gallon grocer's tank, with some
kerosene oil in 1t.
The cellars or the tenants ALSO
contained some mattresses, burlap
bags, paint cans, etc.
In the front hallway. we found
several baby carriages, which In
most cities Is a violation of the
fire code.
The condition of the cellar was
O. clear violation Of the fire code
due to no doubt. to the careless
acts of certain people who had
business in that part Of the build
ing, from time to time.
The various occupants of the
building, and representatives Of the
owners were duly examined by the
office of the fire marshal, In COM
pliance with the law regulating
such Investigations.
Following the evidence obtained
by an examination of the cellar
and the testimony offered by the
various witnesses we are convinced
that the fire was caused by the
carelessness of some person, un-
known to us, who, forgetting him.
seld for the time being, accidental