WILD FIRE RAGING AT ATLANTIC CITY

Congress Hotel Destroyed -- Flames Fanned by Wind Hit Six Other Buildings

ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., Jan 7 (UP) -- A general alarm fire fanned by a strong wind engulfed a seven-story hotel and spread to another hotel and five large rooming houses a half-block from the Atlantic ocean here today.
The Congress hotel, a frame building closed for the winter, was destroyed by the flames which leaped out of control to the roof of the nearby five-story Lorraine hotel, also closed.
Every available fireman and policeman in this resort city was called to try to stem the fire, which was whipped by a 30-mile-an-hour wind.
The blaze was discovered at 7 a. m. and 20 minutes later the general alarm was sounded.
Sparks were blown over a wide area. Residents were kept busy stamping out or dousing small fires which flared up on porches and roofs. The flames spread so rapidly through the Congress that one wall collapsed 40 minutes after the blaze was discovered.

The Lowell Sun Massachusetts 1952-01-07
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!