Evening star., 1942-03-08
7 7Firemen Hurt
In Downtown
4.A|arm Blaze
Furniture Store Loss
Heavy; D. c. Records
Are Damaged

Seven f1remen were injured or
overcome by smoke and 25 received
treatment in a four alarm blaze
yesterday that damaged valuable
records of the District Employment
Center and resulted in a loss esti-
mated at between s50000 and $75,-
600 to the Commercial Office Furni-
ture Co., Eighth and E streets NV.
Approximately 5000 persons
watched scores of firemen from Is
engine and five truck companies
battle the stubborn fire for more
than two hours. while clouds of
black smoke spread over the down.
town section.
The fire apparently started in the
boiler room in the basement of the
three-story brick and concrete
structure occupied by the furniture
concern, according to L. E. Killing,
manager.
First Confined to Basement
For the first hour the flames were
confined mostly to the basement,
storage space for office furniture
and stationery supplies of all kinds.
Firemen were unable to enter be-
cause of the heavy smoke in the
closed place They thrust hoses
through doors at either end of the
structure and through two holes
battered in the rear of the building
by sledge hammers and rams.
The blaze went out of control.
however. and ate up to the second
and third floors in the west end of
the building. Fire Chief Stephen
Porter, who personally directed the
fight, said it was one of the most
difficult blazes to get to he ever
had seen.
Smoke was first noticed by J. r.
Runnels, head of the Office firms
stationery department. Manager
Killing threw valuable records in the
company safe until forced to flee by
the smoke. He carried out the cash
box containing $500.
Porter Is Rescued.
The only person in the upper
stories was Charles White, colored
porter, who was brought down
ladder by f1remen when the build
ing filed with the smoke Employees
of the Employment Center, which
occupies the top two floors. had all
gone because of the Saturday after
noon early closing time.
The building is isolated from
other structures in the neighborhood
by parking lot which surrounds
two sides of the corner structure.
Automobiles In the lot were hastily
moved.
At least 100 auxiliary firemen and
policemen gained experience at the
blaze. These willing amateurs were
much in evidence aiding in handling
hose and assisting regular police
men keep crowds block away
Traffic was rerouted around the fire.
A number of Red Cross nurses
and members of the Red Cross
Women's Motor Corps also re-
sponded, helping administer to the
smoke-c -choked fremen and standing
by for whatever other frst-aid
might be demanded Of them.
Firemen Treated.
Five of the injured firemen were
treated at Emergency Hospital and
released. They were 1t. J. w. Bell,
~, of 4019 Fifth street NV, cut
right hand; Sergt. J. R. Barry, 80,
of 2619 Otis place NE, cut hand;
and, all overcome by smoke. 1t. Asa
Crosley. A, of Berwyn, Md, and
Pvts. Harry Carver, 33, 316 Seven
teenth street Sc, and Graham
Lumsden, 80, of 2536 Fourteenth
street NV.
Treated at the scene were Pvts.
Howard Atwood, Charles Jones and
j. C. Brown, all overcome by smoke,
and Sergt. M. L. Thompson, cut
hand.
Mr.. Killing said the building and
stores supplies are covered by in
surance. The structure and the
business are owned by Barney
Krucof.