Evening star., 1951-08-25
Probe
S75O,OOO Fire
IN Alexandra
Nine Firemen Injured
Fighting Bloze at
Robinson Warehouse

started only Is minutes after thu
premises were checked by a nigh
Watchman.
Nine f1remen suffered minor in
Juries or were overcome by smoke
The spectacular fire-seconC
largest in Alexandria's history
ragged for five hours before it wa.
brought under control and firt
companies remained at the scene
until after midnight pouring
water into the wreckage.
The damage estimate was made
today by John Lacroy, manager OF
the block-long warehouse, after he
completed an inspection of the
ruins.
Capt. W. j. WalSmith of the
District f1reboat William T. Belt
said the dense cloud Of smoke
was visible from the Washington
waterfront when he was ordered
Ito the scene at 6 pm.
1T looked like an atom bomb
had struck Alexandria" he said
Watchman Discovers Fire.
c. c. Kirby, the watchman, said
he had just completed his rounds
Of five buildings owned by the
corporation near the waterfront,
when he discovered the fire at
S:18 pm. That was quarter of
an hour after he had checked the
burned structure, warehouse No.
3, on the west side of South Union
street between Duke and Wolfe
streets. Sixty-f1ve employees had
left shortly before.
Mr.. Kirby said that, as he ap-
proacned the Duke street side of
the 300-foot, one-story brick build
ing, he saw smoke coming out
Of the windows and from the roof.
He said he summoned tiremen
through an alarm system in the
building and through another fire.
box system in structure across
the street, also owned by the
company. In addition, he tele-
phoned the fire department. The
first alarm was sounded at 5:32
pm, the second at 5.35, the third
ct 5:54, the fourth at 5:58, the
nth at 6:01, the sixth at sos
and the seventh at $40 pm.
Arlington Department Aids.
The last alarm summoned Com
panieS No. / and S from the Ar
fnton Fire Department, which
bad been standing by at Alexan-
qria fire headquarters. In addi-
tion, at about 6 pm, the District
freboat was called to the scene,
And four hose lines were attached
10 it, as it moored about block
IN the rear of the fire scene. These
bose lines pumped water to other
pieces of equipment.
I T. w. Robinson, who with his
Brother. Clarence Robinson, owns
4he warehouse. first estimated the
damage at about $500,O00. At
4rst glance it appeared that all of
ehe supplies were damaged either
BY fire or water.
s General Supt. E. G. Trenary,
otter curSory inspection OF the
ruined building this morning, said
principal damage was done to the
eection containing large stocks Of
4BM cards and postcards and
other fiat paper supplies for the
Government Printing Office.
Z Most of the section contaiiag
1000 tons of newsprint was not
feached by the fire but damage
from water and heat appeared to
De extensive, Mr.. Lacroy said.
! Three Firemen Overcome.
Resusciators were used at the
tcene to revive three firemen who
were overcome by smoke. They
were William r. Toy of No. 2 Co.,
John Roberts of No. / and Archie
Hughes of Arlington No. l.
, Others hurt were w. C. Werner
Of No. 2. cut right hand; Edward
NJ. Allen of No. /, bruised arm;
H. B. Childress of No. 2, injured
knee; Charles Clark, No. 8, injured
eye; George McGonegal, No. 2,
bruised elbow, and Robert Brown
Of No. S. blistered feet.
The heavy white smoke from the
burning paper, hampered firemen
TO the extent where they had to
wear gas masks. The southern
part of the roof of the
block-long building caved in
about 80 minutes after the
fire started. and the steel support
girders buckled at the same time.
Meanwhile. frequent warnings
were issued to watch the front
wall. which had cracked near the
top and seemed in danger of fall
ing.
Flames Engulfed Roof.
The flames rapidly engulfed the
roof of the South Union street
side. It took until Z pm, before
the fire was declared under con-
troll, but for some time afterwards,
streams of water were poured into
the building, as flames in the in
terror occasionally flared up. Fire
companies remained on the scene
all night.
Mr.. Robinson said there was
fairly complete insurance cover
age. He made several inspections
of the fire scene. His brother
Clarence, was in Waynesboro. Pa,
at the time of the fire.
A new addition built on the
rear of the warehouse was un-
affected by the blaze, being sep
arated from the burned building
by a fire wall.
The smoke from the fire coulc
be seen from several points ir
Washington as it billowed hun
dreds of feet high.
The fire created enough of {
traffic problem to bring out Alex
andria's traffic control truck ant
all police reserves, who held bacl
. crowd of several thousand per
sons. Fire lines were used to keel
back the spectators.
The f1remen were Handicapped
sby several bursting hose lines. Il