Port Colborne, ON Business Section Fire, Jan 1935

WORST BLAZE IN NINE YEARS OCCURS AT PORT COLBORNE.

BETWEEN $20,000 AND $25,000 DAMAGE DONE TO BUSINESS SECTION BY FIRE.

Port Colborne, Ont., Jan. 31. (CP) -- The worst fire the business section here has seen in nine years did between $20,000 and $25,000 damage, property owners estimated Wednesday night.
All afternoon firemen had fought the flames to prevent them from spreading beyond control. Six lines of hose directed tons of water into the block of three stores owned by ARTHUR and JULIUS KNELL, hardware dealers. Fire Chief H. J. Lambert and his men, wearing gas masks, went into the bsements of the buildings to get at the source of the fire, but intense heat compelled them to retreat after a short while.
Lives of the firemen and spectators were endangered when the flames swept into the midst of a stock of shotgun shells and rifle bullets and exploded them, firing them in all directions.
Wednesday night firemen were grateful that there had been virtually no wind to fan the flames into stubborn fury.

Winnipeg Free Press Manitoba 1935-01-31
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!