The Washington times., 1935-12-13

28 COMPANIES
FIGHT BLAZE
FOR 8 HOURS
Firemen FeIIed, Heat
and Smoke Impede
District Crews
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the Civil War and were to have
been sent to the Archives Build
ing. Other records were original
vouchers for Government appro-
priations, and their loss may en-
tail serious ramificationS affecting
payment to various departments
Of sums allotted.
Here is the chronological story
Of the fire as shown on the
alarms over the fire board at the
District Building:
First alarm, 11:49 p. m. Second
alarm, 1901 a. m. Third alarm,
1925 a. m. Fourth alarm, 1:l8
@. m. Fifth alarm, 1870 a. m.
Special alarm, calling four en-
gines and one truck, 1881 a. m.
Second special for two engines
and two trucks, 1:46 a. m. Third
special for water tower No. 2, 2:l3
a. m. Call for battalion chief,
SOL. Call for deputy chief, 3:05.
Room OvercrOwded
In addition to the firemen,
every available policeman from
the First precinct was rushed to
the scene, while scores Of police
from other precincts were later
called to assist in handling traf-
fic and guarding Government
property.
Failure Of the chemicals in gas
masks used by the firemen after
many hours of service kept the
men from staying in the blazing
room more than a few minutes.
At eight o'clock several addi-
tional men collapsed and were
rushed to the hospital.
All firemen returning from off
duty were rushed to the fire. re-
lieving the men who had been
working all night.
Chief Schrom said that the
chief difficulty experienced wa"
due to only one entrance to the
room, which he said was badly
overcrowded. with records in filing
cases and stacked on the floor.
Farley Office Ruined
The office of Postmaster Gen
eral James A. Farley is located di-
rectly below the fire-swept file
room. When the blaze started,
building guards rushed to Far
ley's office and moved out most OF
the furniture. The rugs were
damaged by water. however, as
were the paneled ceiling and
walls.
All elevators on the Twelfth
Street side of the building were
put out of commission by short
circuits, and the composition
flooring in all the Railways and
many offices was ruined swollen
by the flood of water.
Some confusion followed the
second alarm when the companies
responded but could see no evil
dence of a fire and several were
ordered to return to their stations.
Meanwhile the firemen who
first entered the building were
driven back by the intense heat
and dense smoke which bllloWed
out as they crashed through the
only door to the room.
Traffic a Menace
Several of these men were over
come and rushed to the hospital
Later a number of them returned,
only to again be overcome and
seas AS the the scream Of sirens of the
incoming compan les echoed
throughout the downtown area,
thousands of persons rushed to
the scene, and police had diff
Guilty in keeping the crowds back.
Hundreds of automobiles, parked
around the building while the
owners were at theaters and cafes,
were trapped and could not be
moved. They we're still there this
morning.
Traffic was blocked off all
night on Pennsylvania Avenue,
Constitution Avenue, Eleventh
and Twelfth Streets, but by the
time the morning rush started, po
lice opened Pennsylvania and Con
stitution to traffic, with the cross
streets still closed.
Oliver Katts, George Graves
and C. F. Gill, building watchmen,
first discovered the blaze and at
tempted to queu it with hand
extinguishers. When they were
unable to do this, Graves and Gill
rushed to turn in an alarm. while
Katts continued to battle the
blaze.
Shortage Of Masks
Overcome by the dense smoke,
he lust managed to stagger out
of the room, slamming the fire
door behind him.
The record room. about 100 feet
long and 40 feet wide. contained
documents of the Reclamation
Service of the Interior Depart
ment, the Communications Com
mission and the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
A shortage of gas masks caused
the collapse of several of the fire
men who first rushed to the rec
ord room. carrying hose lines.
The two water towers were
called out, but proved of little
value, since there were no win
dows in the room to receive the
powerful streams from the towers.
NIVS Ed