During an evening thunderstorm, lighting struck at the Sam Strauss Lumber
Yard, 416 Blair Avenue. Two Reading police officers, Kenneth Gaul and Harry
Eisenbise, were in the area when the lightning strike occurred. Seeing the
flames from Schuylkill Avenue, they quickly telephoned City Hall, who sent
out a still alarm. The 22:10 still brought out an engine from the
Schuylkill Fire Company. At 22:13, Box 711, Blair and Clarion, was sounded.
First District Chief Albert P. Batastini, who was on Lancaster Avenue near
Moore's Diner when the still came in, turned onto River Road and saw the
bright glow of the burning lumber yard in the distance. Seeing fire in the
sky was nothing new to Batastini, only this time, the glow was very large.
Knowing that he had more fire than the first alarm companies could contend
with, Batastini called Deputy Chief Francis G. Drexler on the radio, to get
permission to strike an immediate second alarm. After Drexler never
answered him, Batastini called the city fire dispatcher, and ordered a
second alarm to be struck at 22:17.
Afterwards, Batastini regretted doing so, because the second alarm
companies beat Batastini to the blaze when the Assistant Chief got caught in
a hefty traffic jam. For one thing, during the early years of Batastini's
career as a chief officer, when the trucks rolled into a bell alarm,
everyone began to pull hose, hooking from one truck to another truck, to
hydrants, etcetera. Well, when the second bell was tapped out, things got
that much worse, since there was no fire chief to stop them, and tell them
what he wanted.
Incidentally, River road, located on the west side of the Schuylkill River,
eventually became the West Shore Bypass in the early 1960's.
The lumber yard fire quickly went to a third, or general alarm by 22:31.
All the city companies, with the exception of the Oakbrooks, Unions, and
Washington's aerial, were in service for a better part of the night. Well
over two hundred volunteers showed up at the fire.
In responding to the general alarm, William Herbst, a 43 year old member of
the Washington Fire Company, fell off of the tail board of their 1951, 750
gallon per minute, Mack pumper. This occurred as the engine pulled out of
the engine house, and onto Spruce street. Firemen Herbst suffered a cut on
his right elbow.
With the lumber yard already raging out of control, firemen were ordered to
protect the nearby Landy Towel and Linen Service, 432-434 Blair Avenue.
At the height of the fire, a fire broke out on the second floor bedroom of
29 Maple Street. Assistant Chief Russell P. Mogel, along with the
Oakbrook's engine, who relocated to the Rainbows engine house, and Washies'
aerial responded to the still alarm. $1,500 worth of damage was done to the
dwelling.
Thousands of spectators converged on the scene during the inclement
weather. A large traffic jam occurred on Schuylkill Avenue. Those who felt
it was absolutely necessary to get as close to the fire as possible, found
that the traffic on the Schuylkill Avenue Bridge just didn't fast enough for
them. Many just double parked and left their cars on the bridge when they
found they could move no further. Sixteen double parked cars were ticketed
by the Reading Police. Fire Police from the Berkshire Heights Fire Company
stopped all pedestrians from crossing the Bushong covered bridge, which
crossed the Schuylkill River from Wyomissing Boro into the Glenside area of
Reading.
Sam Strauss lost three frame and metal storage sheds, which contained
lumber and other supplies. A lumber drying kiln and planning mill were
destroyed. Two panel trucks, two stake body trucks and a trailer were all
damaged beyond repair. Over $140,000 in damages were incurred.
An "out tap" was sounded at 03:38. All the companies, with the exception
of the Schuylkill's 1949 Mack pumper, returned to their stations. The
Schuylkills remained on location throughout the rest of the night, dousing
the many hot spots and burning debris. A special call for the Rainbow's
1927 American LaFrance Metropolitan, 1,000 gallon per minute pumper, was
sounded at 08:36, to assist the Schuylkills with the dousing of embers. By
noon time, both companies were sent home.
Thanks to Historian Tony Miccicke for sending us these stories.
