$23,000 FIRE SUNDAY MORNING

S.L. Lambert’s Mill Totally Destroyed-Blaze Lights Whole Country Side

But $8000 INSURANCE

            Welland was visited by the most costly fire in years on Sunday morning when S.L.Lambert’s planing mill, North Main street, (52 Main Street North), was totally destroyed by fire. The blaze was a brilliant one, lighting the whole town so that night was almost turned into day. In fact, it threw a very distinct light as far away as Port Robinson.

             The fire was first discovered shortly before 2 o’clock. Dan Passmore and Jim Anderson were the first to discover it and had the ward fire hose cart on the scene before the alarm rang. The alarm was turned in by Mike Zavitz. But owing to the very inflammable nature of the mill and its contents, there was no stopping the blaze and it quickly spread throughout the large buildings. The efforts of the firemen after the first stage were directed largely to saving the block occupied by the mill offices and H. Hilder & Co.’s store. At one time, when the mill which is only a few feet away from the block was blazing most fiercely, it looked as though the block would go too, but at last the danger point was passed. The blaze broke into one upstairs room at the rear but the damage was not so extensive as that caused by water.

             Clarence Brown and family, who lived over part of the mill, had to escape in their night clothes, without saving an article, so quickly did the flames reach their flat.

             Large crowds were attracted by the spectacular blaze. Large burning embers and clouds of sparks swept over the whole east side of the town but as nearly everything was covered with snow the danger was greatly reduced. Fortunately the wind was blowing directly toward the canal. Had the wind been blowing from the northeast it is doubtful if the west side business section could have been saved.

             The heavy cold wind and driving snow made fighting the fire a difficult task.  Eight streams of water were poured into the fire with excellent __but the firemen had to direct the hose playing all day Sunday before it was entirely drowned out.

             Mr. Lambert estimates his loss at over $25,000 with $8000 insurance. Hilder & Co.’s loss will be several hundred dollars covered by insurance. Mr. Lambert attributes the cause to the weight of the snow sagging the roof and breaking the electric wires causing a short circuit which started the fire. He will not rebuild on the present site, but will now transfer his whole business to his Muir Street mill and yards.

             A large amount of material in the mill and two carloads of lumber outside were burned.

             Only last summer Mr. Lambert suffered another heavy fire loss when the rink valued at $8000 was burned.

People’s Press

29 February 1916

Fire: 27 February 1916