Fire at East Los Angeles Causes Heavy Damage

Fire at East Los Angeles Causes Heavy Damage

The recent $150,000 fire in the factory of the Pacific Sewer Pipe Co., East Los Angeles, Cal., was caused by the use of gas heaters on the floor of the drying rooms of the plant, where all forms of pottery, tile and fire brick were manufactured. The building was of wood, occupying a space of 125x250 feet in the eastern part of the city and had no private fire protection. The fire started in the drying room on the second floor at the lunch hour and was discovered at 12:45 p. m. and an alarm telephoned at 12:42. When the department under command of Chief R. J. Scott, arrvied, the whole building was involved, with flames going through the roof. Forty-five men were engaged and employed a La France steamer, a La France combination, a Gorham straight pump, a Seagrave city service truck and two Moreland hose wagons, and laid 4,000 feet of cotton rubber-lined hose, seven hydrants, single 2 1/2 and double 4-in., 500 feet apart, were available, supplied from 8-in. and 10-in. street mains and had a pressure of 50 pounds. Six engine streams were thrown at one time, from nozzles. The fire was of the smoky variety and as no helmets were available, a captain in the department was overcome and had to be removed for recovery. The men fought for four and one-half hours and succeeded in stopping the fire where it originated, with damage of $50,000 to the property, which was valued at $100,000, and the contents, valued at $250,000 were damaged to the extent of $100,000.

The recent $150,000 fire in the factory of the Pacific Sewer Pipe Co., East Los Angeles, Cal., was caused by the use of gas heaters on the floor of the drying rooms of the plant, where all forms of pottery, tile and fire brick were manufactured. The building was of wood, occupying a space of 125x250 feet in the eastern part of the city and had no private fire protection. The fire started in the drying room on the second floor at the lunch hour and was discovered at 12:45 p. m. and an alarm telephoned at 12:42. When the department under command of Chief R. J. Scott, arrvied, the whole building was involved, with flames going through the roof. Forty-five men were engaged and employed a La France steamer, a La France combination, a Gorham straight pump, a Seagrave city service truck and two Moreland hose wagons, and laid 4,000 feet of cotton rubber-lined hose, seven hydrants, single 2 1/2 and double 4-in., 500 feet apart, were available, supplied from 8-in. and 10-in. street mains and had a pressure of 50 pounds. Six engine streams were thrown at one time, from nozzles. The fire was of the smoky variety and as no helmets were available, a captain in the department was overcome and had to be removed for recovery. The men fought for four and one-half hours and succeeded in stopping the fire where it originated, with damage of $50,000 to the property, which was valued at $100,000, and the contents, valued at $250,000 were damaged to the extent of $100,000.