Portland, ME Deering High School Fire, May 1921

Portland School Burned; Sixth In Year

Portland, Maine, May 21 (AP)--The Deering High School was practically destroyed early today by a fire which city officials said was probably incendiary. It was the sixth public school building burned in the city during the past year. The city's entire fighting force was called out. Captain Kent of Engine 6 Company and several other firemen were injured.

Trenton Evening Times, Trenton, NJ 21 May 1921

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FATAL INCENDIARY FIRE DESTROYS SIXTH SCHOOL

Captain Dies Following $100,000 Conflagration In Public Institution

PORTLAND, Me., May 21.--Captain James C. Kent, of the Portland Fire Department, died at a hospital late today of injuries sustained at a fire which destroyed the main building of the Deering High School early in the day with a loss of $100,000. William R. Burke, a fireman, was probably fatally injured.

The police said that the fire, the sixth within a year to destroy a public school building here, probably was of incendiary origin. They will ask the State authorities to investigate.

Chief of Police Irving S. Watts received an anonymous letter late today announcing the Portland High School would be burned next, followed by blasts of buildings on Cumberland avenue.

Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA 22 May 1921
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!