Evening star., 1950-03-14
Blaze Threatens
Business Block
Al Manassas
BIost Sturts Fire
Damaging Theoter
After Closing Time
BY q Stoff Correspondent Of The stor

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MANASSAS, Va, Mar. IA
Flames which threatened to de-
stroy an entire block of the Ma
nassas business district were
started by an explosion in the
towns only theater last night.
Fire companies from three coun-
ties and even some personnel from
the District managed to keep the
blaze from spreading beyond
Pixies Theater. 1t was the his
toric towns most spectacular fire
in A years, residents said.
It was about rs minutes after
300 persons left at the end of the
last show-just before II pm
that a loud explosion rocked the
two-story brick structure, sending
flames shooting from the windows.
Firemen battled more than two
hours to control the blaze, which,
whipped by strong wind, threat
ened momentarily to spread over
an entire block in the heart Of
town.
General Alarm Sounded.
BY coincidence. the Manassas
Volunteer Fire Department had
just returned from a small farm
yard fire when the alarm was
sounded and Fire Chief Raymond
j. Davis soon put out a general
alarm for aid. A dozen COM
panies responded from as far as
Warrenton and the Quantico
Marine Base, more than 20 miles
distant.
The $50 firefighters confined the
flames to the single building, the
interior Of which was almost
burned out. officials estimated
damage at 100000.
Although cause of the fire has
not been determined, it appeared
probable that the theater's oil
heater exploded. Hibbie's appli-
ance store Immediately adjacent
suffered considerable water dam
age. particularly to its supply of
television sets.
Across the block is the Stone
wall jackson Hotel, the roof Of
which was showered with sparks,
forcing many patrons into the
streets.
Sounded Like Dynamite"
"It sounded like a dynamite
blast" said Mrs. Thomas C. Price.
who lives Just across Main street
from the theater.
Louis May, 22-year-old assist
ant projectionist, who had been
the last one out Of the building
at closing time. raced. back from
q corner drugstore, and narrowly
escaped injury when he attempted
to rescue the feature film Sea
biscuit"
Fireman James Robinson, a.,
who had kicked In the front Office
door to get at the flames, said Mr..
May dove In after the film cans,
II grabbed his collar and pulled
him out" said Mr.. Robinson. It
was several minutes before Mr..
May coughed out the smoke and
was able to talk. OF the films, all
he had salvaged were a couple Of
short subjects.
Grill Serves Coffee
Two doors away from the thea
ter, Arnold Service, who owns a
grill, served coffee-600 cups of it
free to flremen, policemen, re-
porters. and anybody else who
wanted it.
Chief Davis. who has been with
the department more than 40
years. called 1t the biggest fire
the town had seen since 1906.
when most of the business dis
trict burned.
The theater. which seated about
500, is one Of a chain owned by
State Senator B. T. Pitts of Fred
ericksburg. Henry w. Morple,
operator of Pitts Theater, said he
did not think 1t could reopen for
at least three months.
Three Fairfax County fire COM
panies responded. from Fairfax,
Herndon and Chantilly. Others
who answered the call were from
Nokesville. Triangle and Gaines
vile. From Washington came
Chief Instructor Clarence Quick
and the department physician, DR..
w. A. Claudy, to offer advice and