The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-11-30
l2.Escope South Elm Home Fire
One Men Injured; 2-StoEy Buildings Loss Considerable


 One person was injured and ii others fled into the street as flames extensively damaged a two-story dwelling at 2O2 South Elm Street early this morning.
 Under treatment at st. Mary's Hospital for first and second degree burns of the hands and face is 2D- year-old Randall Mccarthy, a first floor resident of the burned house. The mans condition was described by hospital authorities as good"
 Fire Marshal Eugene A. Legge said Q cigarette, smouldering in a bed- couch in the first floor living room of the home Of Mfr. and Mrs. Jere- miah Mccarthy, was responsible for the blaze that considerably da1n- aged both apartments of the two- story wooden frame house.
 10 Pieces Answer Alarm
 Five pieces of apparatus respond ed to telephone alarm at 3:30 AM. These were later joined by five more on box can at 3:43 AM. Hydrant streams were layed on the house immediately, Marshal Legge said, but it was impossible to save the structure from being considerably damaged.
 Residing in the first floor apart ment were Mir. and Mrs. Mccarthy and their eight grown children, in- cltding the injured Randall. Mar shal Legge said the man was ii1jur- ed as he went in serch of his 05- year-old grandmother, Mrs. Nora clifford, who resides on the second floor with her son, Thomas.
 The elderly woman, however, had been removed from danger, the Marshal said. The injured man was taken to the hospital by Sgt. Ralph Baril of the Motor Patrol.
 For a tlme, as firemen under the dual command of Chief Martin Campion and Deputy Chief Francis Scully, played hydrant streams on the blazing home, members of both families feared the loss of c con- siderable sum of money in purses and savings. Marshal Legge re- vealed, however. that the money, feared lost, had been discovered by himself and other fIrefighters.
 Man Jumped Through Window
 The Marshal said that all mem- bers of both families were in bed at the time the blaze broke out. He said that, in order to save himself. one member of the Mccarthy clan. Francis, was forced to plunge through the glass of a closed win- dow. The man received minor la- eerations.
 Most of the damage was coneen- trafed on the frat floor where most of the Mccarthy personal belong fnes were fieskEDgefls Considerable damaRe vas need an Che second floor also, and personal property was destroyed. there too.
 The McCarthys. who own Grand Street restaurant, were being shelt- cred, along with Mrs. Clifford and her son, in the nearby home of Mrs. Margaret Dillon of 170 South Elm Street.
 "A monetary estimate of the dam- age could not be ascertained. the Marshal said.
 Respond On Six Other Fires ,Firemen also were called out yes- terday to six other fires.
 An alarm at 8:46 P. M. yesterday brought fouw pieces of apparatus to the home of. Mfr. and Mrs. Joseph Blanchette of i17 Walnut Street where a coal stove had exploded. crashing parts of the stove through two kitchen windows and causing considerable damage to the room.
 Marshal Legge said the family. which includes four children, were not in the kitchen at the time of the explosion. He said that no one was injured. but the sound of the blast brought nearby residents hur- rying to the scene.
 Cause of the explosion, said the Marshal, was explained in the stove, used to heat 30-gallon wa- ter boiler. became overheated be- cause of the failure of having a safety valve. The stove, he said, could not withstand the pressure, and the front blew out.
 Small Blazes Caused
 Live coals were strewn about the kitchen and caused several small blazes. Parts of the stove were scat- tered about the room, and windows and woodwork were damaged.
 Deputy Chief Francis Sculiy was in command of fire fighters.
 In the other blazes. an overflow ing oil burner caused a slight fire at the home of the Rev. Robert A. Heydenreich of 50 Grove Street shortly after 5:s0 P. M.
 Shortly after midnight, a sedan, owned by Harold F. Brown of 47e North Main Street, caught fire and was extinguished by firemen from headquarters. The fire. caused by q short circuit. was in Exchange Place.
 Tn the other fires. firemen ex- tingished three brsh blazes. They were on Hamilton Avenue, Perkins Avenue and Ardmore Road.