Evening star., 1952-09-14
O. TI9l EnNTT0N
Firenlen Half
Contests 10 Fight
'2-A|arm Blaze
Other Calls Delay
Biggest Convention
In Prince Georges

In rrInce georges
Fire-fighting and rescue contests
at the Prince Georges County fire.
mems convention yesterday took
a back seat to several real fires.
The worst was q two-alarm
blaze on farm near Andrews Air
Force Base.
Seven companies were called out
to fight the fire on the Warren
Smith farm on Dover House road.
of Marlboro pike.
Firemen estimated damage at
4,500. The entire tobacco crop in
the barn was destroyed and the
barn itself badly damaged.
Chief and Fireman Overcome.
District Heights Fire Chief Will
liam H. Wells and L. D. Beard
more of the Morningside Fire De-
partment were overcome by smoke
and heat. Both were treated on
the scene.
The first alarm was sounded at
2:24 pm. just as the fire-fighting
contest was about to begin in Dis
trict Heights. Md. Four minutes
later, the second alarm came in.
Some units sent equipment right
from the convention, although all
departments had standby appa-
IratuS in each community.
While the fire was on. four
companies answered a false alarm
at the Hyattsville National Guard
Armory. Three others were dis
patched to a brush fire near Ac-
cokeek.
They Resume Competition.
After the fires were put out,
the companies returned to the
convention to vie for awards in
fire. fighting contests. The fire.
mems uniforms and equipment,
however, were less spick-and-span
than they had been.
Then, as many of the COM
panieS were about to head back
home, two more fires broke out.
Five companies went to a minor
blaze caused by a short circuit
in a house at 1850 Old Fort road,
Oxon Hill, at $50 pm. Five min
utes later, four other companies
went to small barn fire on Hill
road off Palmer highway, near
Seat Pleasant.
The convention also marked the
10th anniversary of the District
Heights Fire Department.
Biggest County Convention.
Those present said it was the
largest county convention in the
associations history. The District
Heights Fire Departments Ladies
Auxiliary had been prepared for
500 diners. but this sold out and
300 more had to be ordered.
In business session last night.
the association elected Jerry Glau-
bitz of the Morningside Volunteer
Fire Department as president for
the coming year. Other officers
named are Francis Xander, Mount
Rainier. vice president; Floyd B.
Heimer. Branchville, reelected
secretary: Vincent Simmel, Cot
tage City, reelected treasurer,
and James E. Sampson, Brent
wood, reelected chaplain.
Riverdale Heights was selected
for next years convention.
The Contest Winners.
The following parade and con-
test awards were made:
=, Band making best appearance-Mount
Vernon Va;l High School, trophy and
Best appearing t companS from SeS1no pT5e: foo
trophy; second place Capitol Heights. Sn'''
Ladies Auxiliars in county naming best
appearance-Beltsville.
Bsse outside Prince
Company coming longest distance
Leonardtown, trophy and S25.
=, Company having most men in parade
p, Oldest piece Of apparatus in parade
Best comic act in parade-seat Pleas
ant $40; Mount Rainier, honorable men.
Best performing drum maioretts-
Vile and the Mount Vernon High School
Band. honorable mention.
Fire Department; Beltsville Boys Club,
honorable mention.
z.IsSfs Standing hook,up sloU contsst|Riverdale
Trophy; Boulevard Heights and Riverdale
(both l g seconds). honorable mention.
/ Standing hook-up from outside county
-Hillandale., trophy.
trophy; Boulevard Heishts ga secondsi
and Riverdale t42 seconds, honorable
Running hook-up from outside county
Standing hook.up for county units
Boulevard Heights G3 secondS), Heinicks
!; Memorial Trophy; Landover Hills Gs
seconds; Brentwood n9 seconds) and
Riverdale Q9 seconds), all honorable
Best-equipped piece Of apparatus from
Trophy; Cottage City honorable mention.
Replacement OF hose while in service
ial Trophy; Capitol Heights. honorable
Company with best appearing ambu-
lance and pumper-Branchville, Bladens-
burg. honorable mention.
pss 1,GDny
third.