[Newspaper]
Publication: The Muncie News
Muncie, IN, United States
vol. 15, no. 209, p. 6, col. 2-3
ONE YEAR'S RECORD.
Seventy-Seven Fires in Twelve Months
in Muncie.
TOTAL LOSS OF $418,616
Over 60 Percent of the Loss
was Out of Reach of the
Department — A Big
Increase in the Fires Over
Last Year.
The past year has been an active one for our fire department. During 1892 Muncie has had seventy-seven calls, to which the department responded, while during 1891 there were but forty-three fires.
The fires during the past year were very disastrous. The total loss of the year was $418,6106. Of the many fires, fourteen were out of reach of the water service, which gave the department no show, and in three the loss was $226,736, or about 60 percent of the entire loss.
During the year water was used four thirty-four times, and the chemical was in service twenty-one times, and in nearly every instance put out the fire without the need of water.
The department is in excellent condition with the exception of the chemical engine. which is unsafe. The steamer is in perfect repair and ready for instant use.
The following is an itemized report of the fires during the year:
Jan. 9. — General alarm; fire in Rev. Guthrie's residence on east Main street; loss $10.
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June 18. — By telephone; Overs and Hemingray’s glass works. Out of reach of water mains; one stream used from Ball Bros, Loss $250,000.
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