The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-08-29

| through the planer plant and saw mill of the Juneau Spruce Corpor- ation early today.
 The blaze was discovered at 12:25 a. m. By the time it was brought under control two hours later, the planer plant and sawmill, and the fuel bin for the mills power plant on the east side of South Frank lin Street were destroyed.
 The dry kiln was partially des- troyed, and the power plant was damaged when flames neaped South Franklin Street.
 Stockpiles of lumber at both ends of the plant were saved. Lumber loss in the mill, plancr plant and dry kiln was estimated at less than 100000 board feet
 The fire resulted in a four-alarm call, which also brought the Doug las Fire Departments equipment rushing to the blaze.
 Several thousands of dollars had been spent remodeling the plant. It resumed operation May 13. after a shutdown due to labor difficulties
 Freeman Shultz, manager of the Juneau Spruce Corporation, was in Portland at the time of the fire Company officials informed him of the fire early this morning.
 He is reported meeting with the 1 Board of Directors of the Goes Bay Lumber Company, who control the Juneau mill.
 Juneau Srucc Corporation off cials would make no estimate of the damage, but admitted 1t was partly covered by insurance. I Juneau and Douglas fire fighters I were joined by U. s. Army Corps of Engineers ire-fighters ano equipment.
 Juneau townsmen joined the fire 1 fighters in hauling hose lines to the inferno
 Before the first fire call had died out, cloud of flames broke through the roof of the mill.
 Heat Intense ] Heat from the blaze was so in- l tense two and one-inch streams of water became steam as they reach ed the blaze, firemen said. Metal roofing melted, and trees were scared 100 yards from the flame A plume of fire over 100 feet high lit the sky and was visible more than eight miles.
 Lack of wind kept the sparks flying straight up as high has 500 feet. q
 At 12:30 am, flames crossed South Franklin Street and set the fuel bin beside the power plant ablaze. A short time later sawdust conveyers from the planer plant to the power plant fell across the street, breaking telephone and pow 1 CT lines.
 A police line kept crowds away from the danger of the broken lines.
 Salvation Army men faced the flames to take coffee to the tired fire lighters
 Attack From Waterfront
 The Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company's tug Trojan valiantly battled the fire from the wharf side.
 The Coast Guard Cutters Citrus commanded by It. Com Ralph Burns, and Storis, commanded by Com. John R. Kurcheski, went alonside the pier, Men and equip ment from both vessels landed on the wharf and poured sea- water pushed by the ships pumps, into the flames.
 Crowds blocked South Franklin Streets sidewalks and flowed onto the streets. Watching citizens hung from open windows of apartment houses and dwellings in the area.
 A line of spectators formed on | the Alaska Juneau Mine tailings above the fire.
 Although the full force of Ju- neu fire fighters, aided by towns men volunteers. Army and Douglas 1 firemen, and ships kept flames from spreading to the stockpiles of lumber, Minard Mil, Juneau fire chief, said the planer plant and sawmill was total loss.
 None of the fire-fighters were seriously injured
 Today firemen were playing sev- eral streams of water on the still smouldering ruins.
 Lines Go Down i Alaska Electric Light and Pow CT Company officials said power lines were destroyed close to the blaze. Workmen succeeded in get- ting power to the KINY transmit ter this morning.
 Telephone cables were burned out, and telephone spokesmen said they