Evening star., 1954-06-07

- A~SAAW0A V1s WSAO OW4O DOA
wood Mills, Inc, with Harry P.
Arnold, said 1t would cost
$750. 1000 to replace it.
Chief Wilson r. Lee of the
Rockville Volunteer Fire Depart
ment blamed the inaccessibility
Of water for the firemen's in.
ability to control the blaze. The
nearest water supply was a creek
three-quarters of a mile distant,
which had to be damned up to
get adequate water.
Chief Lee estimated that 300
tons Of grain and feed were
stored in the mill at the time of
the fire. Loose grain and dust
contributed to it's rapid spread
through the plant.
Wooden Construction.
The mill-250 feet long and
80 feet high for most of its
length-waS Of wooden construc-
ton covered with sheet metal.
The mill ground and stored grain
and sold feed especially for
laboratory animals.
One fireman was slightly In
jured. Eugene Rau, 18. of the
Gaithersburg Fire Department.
suffered a sprained wrist while
firemen were poking through the
wreckage with long poles.
The fire was discovered shortly
after 6 am. today when Russell
I. Mullican. who lives on Summit
avenue 200 yards from the mill,
noticed smoke pouring from the
mill.
Five fire observation-disclosures
vile, Kensineton, Gaithersburg,
Hyattsville and Chevy Chase
responded on the alarm
The fire was so intense that
firemen couldn't get closer than
100 feet. Flames Ieaped as high
as 200 feet. A IRE engine parked
400 feet away had the paint
scorched on its tenders and an
other had its Windshieid cracked.
Chief Lee said the fire appar-
emily started near the oftice end
Of the plant where power lines
come into the office. The cause
Of the, blaze was not determined
Immediately.
Lost In the fire in addition to
the mechanical mill itself were a
car and two trucks parked in the
mill garage. a freight car on a
siding next to the mill and the
Derwood commuters station.
Feared Chimney Would Topple.
The nearby railroad tracks are
on the main Baltimore & Ohio
line to the west. The trains were
afraid to go through until fire.
men pulled down a 4O-feet CHM
ney near the tracks which train
men had feared would topple on
a train. /.
B8sO officials said east-bound
trains. including the crack Ma
tional Limited from ST.. Louis.
the Columbian and the National
Limited from Chicago and the
Cleveland Night Express would
be relayed by way of Relay. Md.
on the main line to New York
near Baltimore. The last train
to pass the fire for hours was
the Brunswick Washington local
at 6:26 am.
Trains began proceeding slow
ly beside the still burning mill
three hours after the blaze
started. They had to slow down
to IS miles an hour because Of
nearly so charred railroad Ties
which railroad officials said will
have to be replaced.
Roofs Of Houses Wet Down.
Although the nearest house
was 300, feet away. f1remen fear
ing the spread of sparks. wet
down the roofs of the houses in
the vicinity.
Firemen used approximately
10000 feet of hose in their strug-
gle to bring water to the blaze.
Double lines were laid to the
stream, 5000 feet away, which
ran dry several times. Another
1000 feet of line was laid to the
more distant Rock Greek.
The danger Of a fire at the
mill APPARENTLY had been worry
ing f1remen for some time. Chief
Lee said firemen were sent to
the mill six months ago to check
on the water supply. A well was
nearby but too close to the fire
to be Of help today.
Chief Lee said he was driving
by the mill only last night when
he stopped to wonder what he
would do n the mill ever caught
fire. He. said he looked at the
creek at the time