Fire in Beloit High School Building Causes Serious Loss
An explosion of chemicals in the laboratory of the Beloit High School, Beloit, Kan., caused a serious fire. The building, which was two stories high, was about 20 years old and, although of stone construction, had only wooden partition walls, permitting rapid spread of the fire. The fire was discovered at 7 P. M., and an alarm was immediately sent in. but when the department arrived, flames were coming out of the roof and almost the entire interior was then involved. Assistant Chief Osa Young had command of the ten men, but owing to lack of equipment, found it impossible to check the flames before the structure was practically gutted, after burning 18 hours. Three 4-inch double hydrants spaced 300 feet apart were available, with a 50 lb. direct pressure from a six-inch main. The only form of fire protection was hose, of which 1,500 feet were laid, both rubber and cotton rubber-lined, and the fact that the fire was stopped without destroying the schoolhouse shows that the firemen worked with skill and vigor. The value of the building, which stood in the middle of a city block, was $100,000 on which a loss of about $50,000 was incurred. The school fixtures were estimated at $5,000 on which there was more than $3,000 loss.
A thoroughly up-to-date fire truck is soon to be added to the equipment of Bridgeport, O.
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