| Ottawa Electric Railway Middle Street Stables and Machine Shop Burned 5 May 1925. |
 Threatening Fire in Chaudiere Area Blaze at O.E.R. Shop on Middle Street. Horses Are Rescued from Stables. Loss which exceeds $6,500 was caused by fire which broke out in the blacksmith shop of the Ottawa Electric Railway stables, 198 Middle street, at 10.17 p.m. on Tuesday. Damage to the building itself was not heavy but some valuable motors and other machinery suffered badly. The loss is covered by insurance. Had it not been for the timely arrival of Mr. James Wright, of Hull, who happened to be motoring past the scene just as the smoke poured out into the street, a much more serious fire would have resulted. As it was he awakened the stableman and the two of them had plenty ot time to get seven horses out ot the stables and turn in an alarm. Firemen under Chief Robert Burnett and District Chief Bradley were quickly on the scene with the firefighters. They battled the fire with four water streams and it was shortly under control. The room in which the fire occurred has a heavy plank floor in which tha blaze evidently smoldered for some time. The room is not used at night and is seldom entered. Chief Burnett thinks the fire may have been caused by a spark falling on the floor just before the blacksmiths left work at 5.30 p.m. In the heavy wood floor he says, it might have smoldered for some hours before assuming big proportions. Besides the blacksmilh shop, the building, a large two-storey affair, includes the company stables and a large quantity of feed was stored on the upper floor. There was imminent danger of the fire catching in the feed but this was averted after strenuous efforts on the part of the firemen. A pet cat, belonging to some ot the employes at the stables, made its escape through a hole in the wall, taking with it a young kitten. |