BLAZE JUMPS STREET
FROM FURNITURE FIRM
STARTS WITH A BLAST
Thousands Jam Vicinity as Firemen Battle Big Blaze
IS SOON CONTROLLED
Whole Jarvis and King Street District Threatened as the Fire Gains Headway
At 1.20 this afternoon the firemen with the high pressure system had the fire under control and confined to the Canada Furniture.
Flames bursting out following an explosion about 12.45 to-day in the Canada Furniture building, 144 King street east signalled one of the worst downtown fires in many years.
By one o’clock the whole building was absolutely gutted by fire and the buildings across the street on the south side of King caught fire from the intensive heat.
A general alarm was sounded. Police have taken control of the streets and are keeping the crowds back.
The fireman have been able to get the fires on the south side of the street somewhat under control.
The stores at the front of St. Lawrence were those which caught fire from the heat.
The whole of the Jarvis and King streets are threatened as the building is still blazing tremendously and the fire extends right back to Adelaide street.
The blaze is believed to have started in the roof and there is no hope of saving the building. Mr. Victor Ross of the Imperial Oil Company stated that the firemen were fighting hard to save the cathedral which is about 50 feet from the Canada Furniture Company.
“The flames were leaping across the street and have caught several stores next to the Furniture Company.†stated Mr. Ross.
Banks Catch Fire
At 1.10, The Russil Hardware premises were taking fire from the sparks falling. The banks on the corner of King and Market streets taking fire and on the firm of Nicholson Brock is near the scene. They just have completed the construction of a new fire-proof building, but have not moved in.
Sparks Cross Street
Suarks
[sic] from the fire floated across King street and fell on the three-storey St. Lawrence market building. The building suffering worst from the blaze next to the furniture store is the branch of the Imperial bank of Canada which is in a cement building across a fifteen foot lane.
On the east side of the fiery furnace is the Carey’s shoe store, a building of long standing. Next to Carey’s is the large Bank of Commerce building at Jarvis and King.
The cause of teh
[sic] rapid spread of the fire was that there were large quantities of benzine and gasoline in the building and the flames were so intense that the firemen could not enter the building.
Fear Walls May Fall
The high pressure squads at 1.10 p.m. are throwing tons of water into the building – on King street, Market lane and at the north. At the same time they are putting large quantities of water on the market and on the roofs of the surrounding building.
The main source of danger is from the walls of the furniture building, which firemen fear may fall out. This has hampered their work, but they are fighting it with all their resources in the endeavor to keep it within the walls of the furniture building.
The fire at first was centered in the Canada Furniture building, directly opposite the St. Lawrence Market. The complete building is blazing like a furnace. The firemen tried to confine the fire to that particular corner. The flames are shooting high into the air and dense volumes of black heavy smokek
[sic] are pouring into the street.
It is thought that the fire brigade will be forced to pump water from the bay to increase the water supply demanded by the fire.
Many old established buildings are adjacent and in immediate danger.
