The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1948-02-19
FIrebug Abroad Last Tuesday
Night; Sets Two Libby Fires

Libby suffered from two incen-
diary fires early yesterday morning
when some party or parties set fires
both at the Kootenai Mercantile
building and the Fashion Cleaners
across the street from the KIM
Between 1870 and 200 a. m. Mrs.
Jack Chapel living a block west
Of the Kootenai Mercantile heard a
loud explosion, and looking east to-
ward the town, saw flames burning
on the tram under the west side of
the K. M. building. She i'm
medlately called in a fire alarm.
The fire department on arriving at
the store was soon able to control
the blaze before it spread inside
the building.
Examination showed that banana
crates, fibre cartons filled with
shredded paper packing and other
lnflammable material had been
placed around the oil barrel which
was sitting under the northwest cor
ner window, and the whole mass
set afire. The oil barrel had been
emptied and heat caused it to form
gas which exploded causing the re-
port heard by Mrs. Chapel The
roof and floor of the tram was
badly charred and burned and the
window by the oil barrel was
broken from the heat, and its wood
en- frame work burned. Water used
in controlling the flames also dam
aged flour in the basement of the
store. Fortunately the culprit had
not succeeded in breaking into the
store.
Following the fire, Dexter Shaur-
cite and George Baker remained at
the building to guard against a pos
Sible second attempt to burn it.
About 40 minutes after the furry
had quoted down, they were drink
ing coffee in the front of the store,
when glancing across the street,
they noted smoke pouring from the
windows of The Fashion Cleaners.
The alarm was given at once, and
the fire department succeeded in
quickly handling the flames. Here Z
too, it was found that someone had
lowered an upper window in the {
northwest corner of the building, i
entered the building, and after riff t
ling the cash register, which for /
tunately contained only the petty /
cash, had set fire and left it burn +
ing. A large amount of clothing il
was in the shop for cleaning and S
all of it was destroyed by the flames
and smoke, which also did heavy Z
damage to electrical equipment in y
addition to the walls, ceiling, fix
lures and other equipment. J. A. -
owner of the establish ),
ment, states that it will be impos- 7
Slble to give an accurate estimate of -
he damage sustained until eX- o
is made by the insurance -
adjuster, whom he ex- =
1ects to be here this evening Y
Thompson also states that just as
oon as it is possible to do so, he -
will reopen for business, though lust :.
low soon that will be cannot be r
determined until a complete check Y
# the damage is completed
The reason why the two fires
we're set can only be a matter of
onjecture at this time, though be-
ef appears to be that fire bugs" flu
nay be loose in the community No To-
Their Understandable reason can be of
dVanced for attempts to malicious trl
= and wantonly burn valuable tri
roperty. There will doubtless be so
xtra measures taken to guard si2
roperty throughout the town, and 22
* p NoCAAb WO04Q DG 1dLIlGI oil I'LL .
lfe time for providers to be around dis
ack alleys or other suspicious Di
laces, either in business or resi- Di
entail sections for citizens are Di
ither nervous over the fires and Di'
rowler could easily receive in Di'
lries. Dis
Incidently, Tuesday night win Bis
wv was pried open at the New DDi!SS
antral School Building. Another X Dis
cident is also of interest in con- KS
,ction with the evening and night us
ounty Surveyor Ira Miller while us us
ing to the post office Tuesday Us
,ening between 7:30 and 800 o. us
)ck noted a person. whom he took KS
r granted was Thompson, leaning D US
er the cash register. He could LIS
t see the party plainly for there
IS no light in the front of the shop, 70
ough a dim light was in the rear RO
the building. None of the shops W
roe were in the shop after 800 7
m MOI
g.,