The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-04-13
BIG PLANT
 GOES UP
 IN FLAMES
Blaze Whipped by High Wind = Fire-Fighters
 Save Many Buildings

Volunteers fought flames all drought last night which razed the Astoria and Puget Sound Can- ming Go. plant at Excursion Inlet. The fire. famed by a 40 mile per hour dry northerly wind, destroy ed several buildings and a dock
 fire-fighting detail from the U. s. Coast Guard Cutter Wachu- sett, volunteers from Hoonah and seven cannery employees attempted gallantly to bring the fire under control but were unable to gain the upper hand until late this morning.
 According to Commander E. " Carlson. Captain of the Wachusett, and company officials at Belling- ham, Wash. the fire, which start ed from a flareback in stove, destroyed the cannery building, two warehouses, stepped dock, an oil warehouse and a cable shed. The shed contained l50,000 feet Of cable.
 Some Buildings Saved
 The fire-fighters saved nearby government dock and two govern ment warehouses, cannery bunk houses. shipyard, six oil storage tanks, power plant. carpenter shop and two boats, the Panther and Johnny E.
 No one was injured, although there were many explosions from various types of cans which flew through the air.
 Outside assistance in fighting the fire was first received when the CAA station at Gustavus noted large columns of smoke in that area yesterday afternoon. Gustav us notified the CAA station in Juneau which directed south bound PIMA plane to detour and investigate. Pilot Tom Comstock located the fire and said that the smoke was rising 5000 feet in the air.
 Pros Ganty of Hoonah dispatched two boats immediately to the scene and the Wachusett left here at 2:40 D. m. arriving at Excursion Inlet by 8 pm. An AGA plane, piloted by Ray Renshaw, flew over the scene late yesterday afternoon. It carried Captain c. V. Telquist of the Alaska Communications System and A. w. Blecketby and Robert L. Daylin of the U. 5. Forest Service.
 Won't Rebuild This Year
 L. L. Medhaug, cannery fore man, said that the fire was dis covered at l2:l0 p. m. when Ed ward Aligaya noticed smoke com- ing from the company store in the center of three buildings on the dock. He called Medhaug and the rest of the crew including Pete Johnson, Shorty Wilson, Fritz Will jams. Frank Mckinley and Bill Duncan who did what they could to save the blazing plant.
 In Bellingham, Daniel Campbell, company president. said it will be impossible to rebuild the cannery before the opening of the season next month. It is the only plant owned by his concern and the fish on hand will probably be sold to other processors. The company employs about 25O men during the fishing season.
 No estimate of the loss is given. Fires Extinguished
 At noon today, Commander Carl son radioed that all surface fires at the Inlet were extinguished with the exception of some in the piling. He said that the Wachu- sett will remain there at least over night to fight any possible future outbreaks.
 Carlson said that there is no danger of further outbreaks un- less the winds shift to westerly and increase appreciably. He explain ed that the debris will continue to smolder for several days.
 He reported that the Wachusett crew was dead tired due to man. ming pumps and hoses all night. Every man performed very we'll" h said. and showed the results of training in their first fire job"