A fire believed to be of incendiary origin destroyed a barn belonging to Norman Baird, located on the road from Williamstown to Tower City, in late September 1925. Local fire departments were able to confine the fire despite the fact that a storage shed for gasoline ignited and exploded, threatening other farm buildings. A problem in fighting this fire was that only Wiconisco sent a pumper that could draw water from a nearby stream.
Possible causes of the fire were spontaneous combustion from hay that had not been properly dried before being stored, or a cigarette that had not been completely extinguished.
A story of the fire appeared in the Lykens Standard, September 25, 1925:
BARN AND CROPS BURN IN UPPER END BLAZE
Fire Wednesday evening destroyed the barn on the farm of Norman Baird, generally known as the Bopp farm, each of Williamstown, along the highway to Tower City.
Origin of the fire is unknown, although the suspicion is placed at incendiary origin. Neighbors suspect a group of boys who have been chased from the premises a number of times recently, thinking they may have returned and dropped a lighted cigarette. Another theory is that the fire may have been caused by combustion of new hay which was housed before properly dried. Thirty tons of hay was sored in the barn just recently.
Farming implements belonging to Joseph Zernitas hich were stored in the barn were also burned. All livestock was saved. The loss is estimated at $3,000.
Because of only a small stream of water running close to the farm, a call was sent to Williamstown, Tower City and Wiconisco fire companies in hopes of saving the dwelling. The companies responded and Wiconisco was the only one equipped to pump from the stream. Tower City and Williamstown guarded the dwelling which was afire several times. The home was about 30 yards from the burning barn.
The blaze spread through the structure rapidly and the firemen’s only task was to confine it to the building.
During the height of the blaze a small structure close to the barn used as a gasoline supply room and where there was a great quantity of gasoline stored, took fire. Almost instantly the gasoline supply exploded and for a time the home was endangered. Tower City and Williamstown companies were kept busy with chemicals guarding the home, which ignited several times from flying embers.
Wiconisco did excellent work in confining the blaze to the two structures which were in close proximity.
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News article from Newspapers.com.
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