Fire Scare in Olmsted Addition
A faulty fireplace joint nearly claims a home, but neighbors manage to contain the damage with a garden hose.
The fire boys were given a long run for their money about 9:30 Sunday evening when an alarm was turned in from the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Hall in Olmsted addition. The fire hose was not brought into service but an incipient blaze was extinguished by the use of a small garden hose. The fire started under the floor and was caused from a loosened joint in the fire place. Only slight damage was done.
“The fire boys were given a long run for their money.”
Home fire safety has evolved significantly since 1916, though a faulty chimney or fireplace joint remains a classic hazard for older homes. This incident highlights both the vulnerability of early 20th-century housing and the reliance on local neighborhood responsiveness before the full professionalization of fire services.
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