DISASTROUS FIRE GUTTED PLANT OF THE MAPLE LEAF MILLING CO.

Many Thousands of Dollars Damage Done to Buildings, Stock and Machinery in Big Fire That Broke Out at 7:30 Last Friday Night

FORTY THOUSAND BUSHELS WHEAT WERE LOST

Fire Was Particularly Hard to Fight-Firemen Were Hampered by Inadequate Equipment, Having to Borrow Ladders-Mill is Still Doing Business and Repairs Will be Effected at Once

[People’s Press,  10 December 1918]

              Last Friday night about half past seven a disastrous fire broke out in the Maple Leaf Milling Company’s plant here which caused a tremendous loss to the building, machinery and stock of the company. The loss is estimated variously at between $50,000 and $100,000, but is well covered by insurance. The fire started near the roof in the north west corner of the mill and before it could be reached had spread well over the entire mill. Owing to the location of the fire and the poor equipment at the disposal of the fire brigade, the fire company experienced very considerable difficulty in handling the blaze, and it was only through their strenuous effort that the damage was not greater. At noon yesterday adjusters from the insurance companies arrived to compute the damage done.

             According to the watchman who discovered the fire, he had been at the place where the fire is supposed to have first broken out, about twenty minutes before he noticed it. After visiting the place on his rounds he smelled smoke, and while trying to locate the smoke, he saw flames burst out. Chief Stapf attributes the fire to spontaneous combustion.

             Upon the arrival of the fire brigade, the fire was found to have gained considerable headway. Great dense clouds of smoke filled the upper storeys of the mill making it extremely difficult to direct the streams where most needed. Also, at the first, the water pressure was not sufficient, although later on the pressure was good. The firemen however made a determined fight and after a couple of hours strenuous work managed to get the conflagration under control by fighting  it across the building and finally extinguishing it on the side opposite to that on which it started. In the meantime however, the entire machinery with which the mill had recently been equipped was destroyed, in addition to the damage to the building which is also considerable.

             In addition to the damage to the machinery and building, there were forty thousand bushels of wheat in the mill, most of which is a total loss. Varying quantities of other grains and manufactured products were also lost.

             Throughout the duration of the fire there about forty men working under the direction of Fire Chief Stapf, thirty-five of the town volunteer brigade and about ten men from the Plymouth Cordage Company’s brigade, who volunteered to help. The brigade of the Empire Cotton Mills also offered their assistance.

             The firemen found themselves sadly handicapped through not having proper appliances with which to reach the fire. Their ladders, particularly, were deficient, and it was found necessary to borrow four or five forty foot extension ladders from citizens in the neighborhood. Other equipment was also lacking, trouble having been experienced in not having proper appliances for the manipulation of the hose lines.

             Mr. Robert Cooper, manager of the mill, was out of town when the fire commenced and returned about nine o’clock, when the blaze was at its worst. Speaking to the Tribune after the fire, Mr. Cooper stated that the mill would continue open as usual, having large stocks of products still on hand for sale. He also stated that as soon as practicable the damage to the building would be repaired, and equipment would be installed.

             Had Friday night not been as exceptionally calm night the entire block on East Main Street in which the mill is situated would have caught fire. But the almost imperceptible wind carried no sparks and the fact that the roofs and buildings were covered with an adequate layer of soft snow prevented any other fires from breaking out.

Fire: 6 December 1918