THREE FIRE DEPARTMENTS WORK FEVERISHLY TO SAVE RESIDENCES IN ALLANBURG

Tense Drama Enacted When Old Upper Hotel Discovered Ablaze

Allanburg, Beaverboard and Welland Brigades Respond to Alarm, and Water Pumped 1,400 Feet From Nearby Raceway-Hose Laid Across Canal Bridge and Disconnections Made When Boat Appears

Damage Estimate at $13,000

[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 5 October 1931]

While Welland slept during the night, a tense drama was enacted in the village of Allanburg when three fire departments worked feverishly to save a number of residences from falling prey to flames. The old Upper hotel, a two storey frame building unoccupied, was the centre of the conflagation, and when the structure was observed to be ablaze at one o’clock this morning, calls were sent to the Allanburg department and the Beaverboard brigade, while the long, short and long emergency blast of the siren at Central fire station in Welland summoned the Welland pumper and 22 men to the scene.

When the Welland department arrived, it was seen that the hotel was a total loss, but the danger threatening adjoining property resulted in a quick decision to play water in the flames to prevent their spread. The raceway west of the canal was the nearest suction available source as with only 20 feet of suction hose the pumper would not work out of the canal proper The hose was laid around the sharp corner on highway No. 3A to the lift bridge on the canal, across the bridge to the raceway situated a few hundred feet west of the bridge.

Highway Traffic Blocked

The pumper was stationed on the narrow bridge across the raceway, blocking all highway traffic and the water was pumped 1,400 feet across the lift bridge and around the sharp corner on No. 3A highway to the scene of the blaze. Good pressure was secured, and the fire fighters were able to play a strong stream on the flames.

However  a new obstacle confronted the firefighters when it was discovered that a boat was approaching the canal bridge. The bridge tender warned the firemen of approach of the ship and they hastened to the bridge in time to diconnect the hose at each end of the structure. When the bridge was raised it carried the length of hose across its deck with it. After the boat had passed underneath, the connections were again adjusted and the task of keeping the flames confined was renewed.

About four o’clock, the fire was subdued and the damage estimated at about $13,000, was confined to the one building. The Allanburg chemical truck was instrumental in saving an adjacent barn.

Combine Hose Equipment

In order to reach the raceway fromt the structure, it was necessary to combine the hose equipment of the Welland and Beaverboard detachments. Nineteen lengths of hose from the Welland trucks were used while 400 feet from the Beaverboard truck was attached. Wuth few exceptions the entire population of the village with their homes near the burning structure, drew water and kept spraying the roofs of their homes in order to prevent sparks from causing further damage.

The structure was built over a century ago and passed out of the hands of the Upper interests to a Buffalo real estate firm. The building had been unoccupied for about a year.

Through the kindness and thoughtfulness of Mr.and Mrs. R. Lister of Allanburg, the members of the various fire companies were refreshed with hot coffee and sandwiches during their strenuous fight with the flames.