Madison County Democrat

59 Fires Reported By Local Firemen For The Year 1950

Fifty-nine fires in the corporation of London during 1950 did not mount into too great a loss financially in any one case, but one fatality resulted from fire.

Bartley Sullivan died in Mt. Carmel Hospital as the result of burns when the living car in which he resided on East Center street, caught fire from an overheated stove August 7.

Fire cost the life of another county man when Happy Walls of Newport, burned to death when his automobile caught fire on the Xenia Road, southwest of London.

Major property damage by fire was to a garage operated by Dan Hunter, corner of Oak and Center streets, owned by Paul M. Dwyer, August 7, according to the annual report of Chief Dilwyn Andrews. Loss not officially reported was approximated at several thousands by the chief.

Though there was but slight damage by fire, a loss of several thousand dollars was estimated on the plant of the Zero Locker when machinery exploded April 12.

No other fires of any importance were reported. Calls were answered on 15 fires in dwellings, with no great loss in any case. A number of grass fires, as well as automobile fires, were included in the total.

Outside the corporation 23 calls were answered by the Community truck, mostly grass fires. Major call was the one of July 29 when a Diesel engine on the Pennsylvania railroad caught fire between London and West Jefferson and tied up traffic for several hours.

Up to December 29, August topped the list with nine fires. The report by month showed, January 3 fires; February, 5; March, 4; April 7; May 5; June 2; July 6; August 9; September 2; October 3; November 8 and December up to 29, 5.