| Ottawa Electric Railway Car Barns at Rockcliffe Burned 25 September 1927 |
 Ottawa Citizen 26 September 1927 SECTION O.E.R. CAR BARNS AND ALL EMERGENCY ROLLING STOCK AT ROCKCLIFFE ARE DESTROYED With Damage Estimated at Around $200,000, Fire Is One of Biggest Ottawa Has Experienced in Years. Twenty-five Cars and Other Equipment Destroyed. Loss Covered by Insurance. WOODS IN RIDEAU HALL GROUNDS ALSO IN DANGER OF TAKING FIRE Firemen's Quick Dash With Hose Stream Up Pine Hill Probably Kept Conflagration From Sweeping Rockcliffe Park. Handi capped by Difficulty in Getting Water as Scene Outside City Limits. Origin of Fire Not Known, but Rigid Inquiry to Be Conducted by O.E.R. Company. One of the biggest fires which has occurred in Ottawa in recent years broke out at about 5.20 o'clock yesterday afternoon in the Rockcliffe sheds of the Ottawa Electric Railway Company and caused a loss which is estimated at about $200,000 by Mr. J. M. Ahearn, assistant manager and purchasing agent of the O.E.R., who appraised the damage last night. Fanned by a brisk wind which blew from the west, the showers of sparks which arose from the blaze threatened that section of Rockcliffe Perk woods behind the sheds, which is known as Pine Hill. Once, in fact, the bush did catch and the firemen had to run three hundred feet of hose in amongst the trees and up a steep hill before they could extinguish it. Had the direction of the breeze been slightly different the trees on the grounds of Rideau Hall would also -have been endangered. Starting from an unknown source near the front door of the west section of the building, the conflagration soon assumed large proportions and swept through the entire section of the building, destroying 25 emergency cars, a bonding car, and a track grinder. In this part of the building, which was soon reduced to a raging mass of flames, were stored those cars which are used to carry unusually heavy traffic caused by the advent of some big event. Everyone of them was in perfect working order, ready for instant use, and their loss is quite a blow to the company, for although they are fully covered by insurance, their immediate working value is nil. Blazing Roof Collapses and Woods Catch Fire From Shower of Embers The first alarm came in by phone to station No. 6 on Sussex street, at 6.20, and within a few minutes the whole section of the building was beond hope of saving. The rest of the building was saved by the thick brick wall which intervenes between it and the section destroyed, and by the efforts of the firemen who speedtlv torn down all wooden connection along which the flames might spread to the adjoining parts of the structure. With the big front doors open the burning section of the building resembled a huge furnace. A gusty wind blowing from across the river drove through the opening into the building and forced the flames along before it. Then when the root fell in the draft blew showers of sparks into the air over the rear of the building and into the tall evergreen trees which densely cover the hill immediately behind the sheds. For a time, even before it actually caught, it looked as if the bush might go up too, as thousands of glowing sprks were landing in the trees. Occaisionally a branch would catch and blaze up a little as the huge crowd which had gathered watched anxiously,. fearing that before the end of the evening the beautiful park would have become a prey to the ravaging flames which the wind would have swept right across the hill. It did catch finally; about three hundred feet from the border of the lumber, and firemen had to scramble up the side of the hill with a long length of hose before they brought the new blaze under control and finally extinguished it. Water Hard to Get. All hope of saving the stricken part the building was removed at once, not only had the conflagration got a tremendous start before the fire department could reach the scene, but water was not to be obtained without the greatest difficulty. Chief Burnett pointed out to The Citizen that the scene of the fire was outside the city limits, and that there are few hydrants in the neighbored. He said that the department did not hesitate to go to the fire even though it was outside the city limits, and, he added, even nad it hesitated, would have been called later to protect the Rideau Hall property which is within the city limits. From Rideau Hall Hose lines had to be run from the front and back gates of Rideau Hall down to the scene of the fire, and before one of the big pumps was put on the hydrant end of the lines the pressure was very poor. Firemen worked from the roof of the building overlooking the blazing section and poured what water they could on to the flames. But it seemed to do very little good until the fire began to burn itself out. Towards the end when it was smouldering, a great mass of emberes[sic] and hot ?i with the steel frame of the roof and the skeletons of the cars sillouetted against the glowing red, sharp gusts of wind swept the length the building and sent shower of sparks flying over the trees behind, Crowd Runs to Safety It was just as the Flames were beginning to die down. The coping around the outer edge of the roof, or what had been the roof, fell to the ground. Starting near the front of the building it peeled off and landed with a roar in the dry grass behind the structure. The grass immediately caught fire and blazed up along the side of the loop which runs around the structure, while the overhead wires which was supported on ? iron posts embedded in the coping fell away and sagged towards the ground, causing spectators who had ventured close to scamper away to safety. Thousands of Spectators Other Spectators, part of the great crowd of many thousands which had been attracted by the dents Columns of black smoke which arose from the burning shed and by the red glare which, reflected from the clouds of smoke, could be seen from all over lower town and many other parts of tne city, besides points up the Gatineau, passed behind the building in order to see wnat was happening on the other side. Occasionally they would get around without difficulty while at others showers of sparks would begin to fall on them as they ran me gauntlrt somewhat apprehensive of being singed. In all four streams of water were used by the firemen and a total of 7.200 feet of hose was run out through which the water was forced by two of tne big gasoline pumps. - - - All Emergency Cars. Mr. Ahearn told The Citizen that the loss of rolling stock suffered in this fire is somrwhat of a blow to the company for it consisted of all the emergency cars which could be brought out at a moment's notice,and, though threy are covered by insurance, there must necessarily be a delay before they can be replaced. He added that it was most fortunate that the flames had not spread to the adjoining section of the building, as this will be used as housing space for the new rolling stock which the company will put in operation later this fall. The Rockcliffe sheds, Mr. Ahearn explainedt, had been more or less in ? forsome time except as a storage place for these emergency cars. With the coming of the new rolling stock, however, they will be reopened and will be as active asany other of the barns in the city - - - The fire will probably mean the final passing of the old open car in Ottawa, as they are no longer built. They were to be seen at exhibition time and at other times when the rush of traffic was extraheavy andnecessitated the use of s large number of extras. Previous to this they were run chiefly on the Hull-St. Patrick line durint the summermonths before the advent od the new St.patrick street bridge and the big double truck cars on that line. Many of the cars destroyed were of the open type. Ottawa Journal 26 September 1927 OER soon to rebuild barn destroyed by fire. Picture. Caption: All the remains of 25 summer type streetcars and other equipment in the large barns of the Ottawa Electric Railway Company at Rockcliffe, near Rideau Hall, after the fire which swept the sheds late yesterday. To the left of the picture are two other sections of the car barns, housing trams which escaped the flames. This view, taken from the front, shows the depth of the barns, which are served by five tracks, and the extent of the damage, estimated at approximately $200,000, but covered by insurance. Take inventory of cars burned without delay. Company did not lose all of its summer cars in Sunday blaze. Types that were lost were coming obsolete. Reconstruction of the fire devastated car barns of the company at Rockcliffe will probably be commenced at an early date, it was announced this afternoon by Major Burpee, vice president and general manager of the OER. Major Burpee, who was not in the city yesterday when the fire occurred, obtained full details of the occurrence between his regular duties this morning, but stated at noon that no complete inventory of the loss has been made. "We are having a complete inventory of the contents of the car barns made for the adjusters of the insurance companies, whom we expect here shortly to go over the place," the general manager said. Major Burpee said the building and its contents were insured by practically every company on the fire underwriters association list. "We will naturally recondition the building which is needed for our stock." he stated. Asked whether the destruction of so many summer type cars at the barns would mean the end of such vehicles in Ottawa, Major Burpee expressed the opinion that not all the summer cars were in the section burned. He believed there would be other such vehicles in the other two sections which escaped the flames. :Of course that type of car is becoming obsolete," he stated. "We are asked - all transportation companies are - not to construct any more trams which have not a definite front entrance and exit." Continued on page seven. Page seven (excerpts only). 27 OER street cars and part of barn burn in $200,000 fire. causing damage estimated at $200,000 and apparently started by clandestine smokers, fire wiped out one of the three sections on the car barns of the OER on Princess Louise Avenue, within a short distance of Government House, Rockcliffe, at 5.30 o'clock on Sunday afternoon. The loss is covered by insurance. Twenty-five summer streetcars, all ready for emergency service, a rail bonding ca and a rail welding car, with the barn itself were destroyed while firemen from seven city stations aided by OER employees fought to save the other two units of the shops and to prevent the flames from spreading. The fire gutted a familiar landmark at the western entrance to Rockcliffe Park, seriously depleting the rolling stock of the OER and threatening to destroy shops being prepared for an early opening having been closed for two year, to accommodate increasing street railway equipment. So fiercely did the flames ravage the buildings, fanned by a strong wind from the river, that the interior soon resembled a raging furnace. The collapse of the roof sent showers of burning embers into the dense growth of evergreen trees on Pine Hill, behind the sheds and only the energetic work of the firemen in running 100 feet of hose up the steep hill saved these trees and others on Rideau Hall grounds from destruction. Had the flames got a start in these trees, it is felt that the entire park might have been fire swept. Only an hour before a passer-by saw flames shooting from the roof of the nearest unit to Princess Louise Avenue, a watchman of the OER had been sent on an inspection tour of the premises. He smelled smoke in the barns. He made a thorough search, suspecting that someone had entered and was smoking on the premises. Although he went through every car in the three units he failed to locate the culprit or culprits. about four o'clock the watchman locked up the building and went away. J.M. Ahearn visited the scene. Cars were all conditioned for emergency use. Ready for motormen to step on to them and take them out. Of the summer type and were by no means out of date. Building could not be reconstructed for $25,000. 210 feet long by 60 feet wide, had five tracks. The centre unit, the next to that which was destroyed was cut off from the south wing by a two-foot brick wall. This alone saved the centre which was closed two years ago, but was not being reopened to take care of the increased rolling stock of the company. The barns were constructed about 15 years ago. Ahearn had his suspicions. Electrical power had been turned off. Reason to believe that persons gained entry to the building for various reasons, and had even gone to the extent of digging under the doors on occasion. The company has clues to the identity of at least one such visitor. Owing to the location of the fire there were reports that Rideau Hall was in danger. By 6 o'clock there was a large crowd present. Police were quickly at the scene and a cordon was formed around the place to keep children and others away from the zone in which the wind scattered sparks. The roof of the burning section of the car sheds and its double doors were the first to burn despite the efforts of the firemen to confine flames to the interior. By six o'clock the roof had entirely gone and spectators were able from the front to look into the blazing interior of the long sheds where the street railway company's rolling stock was, even then, only masses of twisted iron and charred framework. Only stout walls saved the whole shed of three sections. Much more in a similar vein. Ottawa Journal 27 September 1927 Page seven (excerpts only). 27 OER street cars and part of barn burn in $200,000 fire. causing damage estimated at $200,000 and apparently started by clandestine smokers, fire wiped out one of the three sections on the car barns of the OER on Princess Louise Avenue, within a short distance of Government House, Rockcliffe, at 5.30 o'clock on Sunday afternoon. The loss is covered by insurance. Twenty-five summer streetcars, all ready for emergency service, a rail bonding ca and a rail welding car, with the barn itself were destroyed while firemen from seven city stations aided by OER employees fought to save the other two units of the shops and to prevent the flames from spreading. The fire gutted a familiar landmark at the western entrance to Rockcliffe Park, seriously depleting the rolling stock of the OER and threatening to destroy shops being prepared for an early opening having been closed for two year, to accommodate increasing street railway equipment. So fiercely did the flames ravage the buildings, fanned by a strong wind from the river, that the interior soon resembled a raging furnace. The collapse of the roof sent showers of burning embers into the dense growth of evergreen trees on Pine Hill, behind the sheds and only the energetic work of the firemen in running 100 feet of hose up the steep hill saved these trees and others on Rideau Hall grounds from destruction. Had the flames got a start in these trees, it is felt that the entire park might have been fire swept. Only an hour before a passer-by saw flames shooting from the roof of the nearest unit to Princess Louise Avenue, a watchman of the OER had been sent on an inspection tour of the premises. He smelled smoke in the barns. He made a thorough search, suspecting that someone had entered and was smoking on the premises. Although he went through every car in the three units he failed to locate the culprit or culprits. about four o'clock the watchman locked up the building and went away. J.M. Ahearn visited the scene. Cars were all conditioned for emergency use. Ready for motormen to step on to them and take them out. Of the summer type and were by no means out of date. Building could not be reconstructed for $25,000. 210 feet long by 60 feet wide, had five tracks. The centre unit, the next to that which was destroyed was cut off from the south wing by a two-foot brick wall. This alone saved the centre which was closed two years ago, but was not being reopened to take care of the increased rolling stock of the company. The barns were constructed about 15 years ago. Ahearn had his suspicions. Electrical power had been turned off. Reason to believe that persons gained entry to the building for various reasons, and had even gone to the extent of digging under the doors on occasion. The company has clues to the identity of at least one such visitor. Owing to the location of the fire there were reports that Rideau Hall was in danger. By 6 o'clock there was a large crowd present. Police were quickly at the scene and a cordon was formed around the place to keep children and others away from the zone in which the wind scattered sparks. The roof of the burning section of the car sheds and its double doors were the first to burn despite the efforts of the firemen to confine flames to the interior. By six o'clock the roof had entirely gone and spectators were able from the front to look into the blazing interior of the long sheds where the street railway company's rolling stock was, even then, only masses of twisted iron and charred framework. Only stout walls saved the whole shed of three sections. Much more in a similar vein. Ottawa Journal 28 September 1927 "HAVE NO COMMENT" ON CAR BARN PROPOSAL O.E.R. Has Heavy Investment Involved at Rockcliffe The suggestion that the Rockcliffe car barns, which were partially destroyed by fire a few days ago, be removed altogether from the entrance to the park, was received without comment by officials of the street railway company today. Manager Fred Burpee stated that the matter was not under consideration, although he supposed that if parties interested In the acquisition of other people's property were to make a reasonable offer it might be taken under advisement. The company had a very heavy investment in the Rockcliffe barns, however. Another gentleman connected with street railway activities was of opinion that the entrance of the park would undoubtedly be improved if the barns were removed. "The move is bound to come sometime in the future," he stated, "although whether this is an opportune time or not I cannot say. The location of the barns suits the railway's needs admirably, and the question is whether the purchase price would provide enough funds to buy an equally suitable site within the city limits. Then there is another matter that is perhaps not considered. This is the fact that the company pays township taxes on its Rockcliffe property. If it moved the barns into the city it would be forced to pay municipal taxes. All these are matters to be taken into consideration, and while the company may be in full sympathy with all efforts to beautify the city and Rockcliffe Park it must be borne in mind that it owes a first duty to its shareholder." The question of the removal of the Rockclilfe barns is not a new one. It has been brought to the attention of the company on many occasions and a large number of visitors and residents have commented on the location of the barns so close to the entrance to the park. The site was acquired by the company many years ago from the Keefer estate and the barns were in operation before this park was taken over by the city. |