Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-18
at Church
Second Big Fire
In Alexandra
McBurney HolI Burns
At Main intersection
With S200. 900 Domoge

Alexandria firemen were called
out again early today to battle
a $4,000 blaze in the Temple
Baptist Church at King and PEN
ton streets, only a few blocks
from the scene of a fire which
yesterday caused 100000 dam
age in McBurney Hall, 75-year-
old store and Office building at
King and Washington streets.
Police detoured traffic from the
vicinity of the building, fearing its
fire-damaged walls might collapse
Southbound traffic on Washington
street, the chief North-South artery
in the city, was being rerouted SO
1t would not have to pass McBurney
Hall. Eastbound travel on King
street likewise was detoured.
Oil Explosion Suspected.
Fire Chief James M. Duncan, IT..
said an investigation would be made
into the cause of the fire. He be-
lieves an oil burner explosion was to
blame. The oil fumes were so great
that firemen could not go into the
basement where the fire apparently
started, the chief added.
Discovered about 4:30 am. by the
occupant Of nearby building who
smelled smoke, the blaze quickly
spread in the three-story building
but f1remen kept it from going into
structures which adjoin McBurney
Hall on the west and to the rear.
Damage to McBurney Hall was
estimated at $4,000 by DR.. Robert
South Barrett. owner, while loss to
stock Of the Whelan Drugstore on
the first floor was placed at $65, 600
Water damage to furnishings, fix
lures and stock in adjoining build
ings was estimated at 100000.
The Temple Church blaze was
discovered about 6 o'clock by the
Rev. Ryland K. Dodge, pastor, who
lives next door. The fire started In
the basement and burned through
the floor near the pulpit and bap-
tismal font and up the wall to the
roof, Fire Chief Duncan said. Most
OF the damage was caused by smoke
The interior walls will have to be
refinished and a hole repaired In
the roof.
Defective wiring Is believed to
have caused the fire, Chief Duncan
said, and the city electrical in
spector is investigating.
District Trucks Stand BY.
All Alexandria companies were
called to fight the McBurney Build
Ing fire when general alarm wa:
sounded about is minutes after the
arrival of the first piece of apparatus
As a precaution two companies
from the District and one from
Arlington stood by at Alexandra
firehouses.
Hindered by the dense smoke and
oil fumes, firemen had the blazs
under control by 1890 am. but
poured water into the building
until noon.
Four fire fighters Were overcome
by smoke and treated at Alexan.
dria Hospital. They were Charles
Robey, 80, of 827 South washington
street; Melvin Harrington, 26, OF
210 East Windsor avenue: Thoma.
Chumley, "a, of 218 North Patrick
street, and Ernest Bryant, 81
South Payne street.
Law offices Of Carl Budwesky
Alexandria City Manager, and STAN
ley King, United States commission.
er at Alexandria. which are In the
structure to the rear of McBurney
Hall, were damaged by water.
One Of the fire fighters was the
Rev. Norman Roberts, pastor of the
Alexandria Methodist Protestant
Church, who worked until the fire
was under control and then held
services at his church.