 | The Cavalier daily Tuesday, January 30, 1973 |  |
Second Floor 'Aflame'
"The entire second floor
was aflame," said Mr. Reuwer.
"I've never seen anything like
it."
After alerting any possible
occupants, the pair left the
building and phoned in the
alarm from a Lawn room.
Buildings and Grounds
Director H.I. Taylor estimated
damage to the structure at
roughly $26,000. The main
and second floors suffered
extensive smoke damage,
according to Mr. Taylor, as
well as widespread plaster
damage from the water and
heat. The maple floor also was
heavily damaged, primarily
from the water.
The fire's only casualty was
67-year-old city volunteer chief
Lionel S. Key, who fell 15 feet
through the first-floor ceiling
during the fire-fighting effort.
"We had it under control
downstairs," explained Mr.
Key afterwards. "I went to the
head of the stairs to see if the
firemen needed anything, made
one step and down it came...I
went right through."
Fireman Bobby Rogers,
next to Chief Key at the time
of the accident, blamed the fall
on the heavy smoke and dark.
"He was on the second floor
beside me," related Mr.
Rodgers, "and I didn't even see
the hole, it was so dark."
Mr. Key was treated at
University Hospital for three
broken ribs and a possible
concussion, before being
released about 4:30 a.m.
"It was evidently an intense
fire on the first floor,"
said Fire Chief Taliaferro,
"and moved up to the second
floor and a little bit into the
attic. It could have been a lot
worse. Most of the damage is in
the hallway, really."
| The Cavalier daily Tuesday, January 30, 1973 | |