DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT FRESNO.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT FRESNO.

On the night of August 13 a firebug set the most disastrous fire in the history of Fresno, Cal. It swept the Southern Pacific railroad reservation from Mariposa street to Mono street, a distance of three blocks, and in a little more than an hour $500,000 worth of property went up in smoke. Some of the buildings burned were packing houses, and their destruction will throw about five hundred people out of work. The fire started in the immense establishment of the Forsythe Seeded Raisin Company,between Mariposa and Tulare streets. It was just as the 11:40 p. m. passenger train pulled out that flames were seen issuing from the roof of the building. A minute later the whole roof was on fire, and soon the entire building was enveloped in flames. A short time before the department had been called to a small fire on the corner of O and Mariposa streets, and it was still at work there when the fire broke out on the reservation. By the time the engines arrived at the reservation the Forsythe packing house was beyond saving and firemen gave their attention to saving the Phoenix Packing Company on the south side of Tulare street. A very strong wind was blowing from the north, and, work as they would,the Phoen ix soon caught fire. This, like the Forsythe place, was a raisin seeding house, and was equipped with expensive machinery. The flames became so fierce as to drive the firemen back, and the fire soon assumed such proportions as would have taxed a much larger city’s department. The National Ice Company’s building caught fire from sparks from thatot the Phoenix Packing Company,and,as the ice company dealt also in coal, kindling, cord wood, and other fuel, the blaze became stronger, and the flames spread to, and destroyed the Farmers’ and the Einstein warehouses, both full of grain. The firemen managed to save half of the Hobbs Parson raisin picking house; but fire and water combined ruined the stock. The fire ended at this point, through the Depot hotel and the depot was ablaze several times. Many freight cars were destroyed, with their contents. Anight watchman perished in the Forsythe packing house and of three Chinese dangerously injured two must die. One was hurt by stepping on a live wire; another fell from a burning roof while trying to catch a rope thrown to him by a fireman;and the third was run over by a hose wagon. The loss may exceed $500,000.

The fire equipment of Fresno, which is a town of 10,000 inhabitants, consists of three steam fire engines, one chemical engine, four chemical extinguishers in hose wagon, one hook and ladder truck, one aerial truck,one hose carriage, two hose wagons, 6,500 feet of good cotton hose, 1,500 feet of inferior, with fourteen horses. The Gamewell fire alarm system is installed, with sixteen boxes. The total full paid membership is eleven; part paid, five, volunteers, seventy-nine.