Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1917 — STEAM PIPE STARTS A FIRE [ARTICLE]

STEAM PIPE STARTS A FIRE

Coal at Heating Plant Ignited Late Saturday Afternoon. Fire in the coal bin at the county heating j plant broke out Saturday evening and but for the quick work of Fireman Griggs a material damage might have resulted, as the bin contained about 150 tons of coal at the time. As it is the damage is very slight. A 3%-inch steam pipe from the boilers to the jail runs through the coal bin. Ordinarily not enough coal is put in the bin to reach this pipe, but last week a larger quantity than usual was thrown in to prepare for a coal shortage, and this steam pipe was covered to a depth of several feet. About 5 o’clock Saturday evening Fireman Griggs noticed gas coming from the coal bin and knew at once that the steam pipe had ignited the coal. He procured several sections of fire hose from the city fire house and for over two hours poured water into the coal bin. Upon investigation is found that but very little coal had burned before the fire was detected.