Evening star., 1955-01-26
S25O,OOO Fire
DesfroysSfore
On 9Th Street
City Block Periled
Before Bloze at
Kuufmun's S Is Put Out

engulf an entire city block de-
stroyed the Harry Kaufman de-
partment store in the 1900 block
of Seventh street NV. last night.
The blaze was the second mul-
tiple alarm at the department
store. In l94S. q four alarm fire
destroyed the building.
David Wise. one Of the owners
Of the company. was at the fire
scene until early this morning.
He said o very rough. certainly
preliminary estimate of damage
to merchandise and fixtures
would be between $250,000 and
$500. .o00."
He said he thought we're in
pretty good shape" as far as in
surance is concerned.
Only the fact that the wind
was blowing from the west, forc-
ing the flames out into Seventh
street. which acted as a fire
break, was credited by fire off,
cials with preventing flames from
consuming structures on either
side Of the large store.
Flames Roar on Firemen.
Sixth Battalion Chief Andrew
Wright. first official on the scene
at 9:37 pm. said his men had
Just placed a ladder against the
building when a large second
story window blew out.
He said his men were sllowered
with glass and were forced to
retreat across the street as flan1ss
roared out more than SO feet.
Within 10 minutes, three other
alarms were sounded.
These were quickly followed by
a fifth alarm and a special alarm
before Plan e. was put in force.
Under plan E." off-duty fire.
men were called from home. and
all available officials were noti-
fed to report to the fire grounds.
It also cancelled out fire box calls
in the rest OF the city. Equip
ment remaining in fire houses
was dispatched by radio from
central fire headquarters,
.Deluge Of Water.
At least As pieces Of apparatus.
including five aerial ladders with
hoses, poured water into the In
ferno. Pumping trucks had lines
attached to fire plugs as far
away as four blocks.
At the height of the blaze.
pressure on the hose lines. in
front Of the store, which takes
up nearly half the block on the
west side Of the street, was be.
ing held down by flremen to keep
them from shaking out of con.
troll.
More than 5000 spectators
crowded into the block bounded
by Seventh and Eighth. N and o
streets.
Flames billowed nearly 80 feet
into the air, at times making the
street as light as day. only TO be
BACKED out by clouds of smoke
so dense 1t was impossible to see
more than three feet.
Nearby Roofs Patroled.
Squads of f1remen were as
signed to patrol adjoining roofs
on each side Of the street 10
notify those on the ground in
case sparks showering into the
sky set other buildings on fire.
Police 1t. Irving Lubore and
Capt. Richard Felber ordered
tenants Of buildings adjoining
the department store into the
street as a safety measure.
The area In front OF the store
was so clogged with hose and
fire trucks that rescue squad arn-
balances and trafiic policemen
were forced to use the sidewalk
for a roadway.
Only the fact that battalion
chiefs instructed their men not
to go too close TO the building
prevented any serious injuries to
firefighters.
Within two hours after the
blaze was reported, the roof and
the second floor caved In. send
ing a huge cloud of sparks into
the sky.
Oddly enough. q 30-ton air.
conditioning unit, recently in
stalled, remained intact on the
roof. It was supported by q sep
arate set Of steel girders.
Church Threatened.
One anxious spectator was
the Rev. John B. Roeder, pastor
Of the Immaculate Conception
Church and School. which Is sep.
arated by q narrow areaway from
the flaming building. The red
brick church. Father Roeder said,
is one Of the Oldest In the city. 1t
was built in 1864.
Shortly before ! am. Fire
Marshal Ray Roberts said the
blaze was under control. How
ever, he said, he would not
permit any OF his men to enter
The structure until daylight be.
cause Of the weakened condi-
Eion Of walls.
Mr., Roberts said he did not
know what caused the FIRE. but
be said that. from the ap.
pearance OF the ruins, It was al
most certain 1t began on the
second floor.
Two-thirds Of the building Is
.wo-stories high. The north end
rises four floors.
Heaters Reported Used.
He said he would investigate
reports from persons living in
The vicinity that the boiler in
The store was undergoing re-
pairs and space heaters were be-
ng used to warm the building.
Fnttr Aonre dnuyn fhe efreef