The Second of Its Kind in Ten Years–The Large Car Shop and Supply House Destroyed–Loss About $15,000

Editor’s Note: In recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, City of Norwich Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo has shared some of the department’s archives and journals reporting on the earliest recorded fires in the city. Each day this week, we’ll present a selection from those early records.

As reported by The Morning Sun on Monday, March 30, 1903

About 10:30 last evening the big whistle at the Ontario & Western company’s round house began to sound out its sharp warning, usually given in an alarm of fire in that section. No sooner was it sounded than a big flame of fire shot heavenward in the southeast part of the town, and the fire alarm signal and whistle soon called the department to the scene of the conflagration, which was found to be the long car shop in their yard.

Joseph Sauders, night fireman, had gone out of the boiler room to shut off a leaking steam pipe valve when he discovered the car shop in a blaze. He immediately blew the round house whistle and then sent in the fire alarm.

The firemen arrived promptly upon the scene, and soon had all available hose in use, with several pipes directing the water upon the fire. It was soon found impossible to save anything below the big planing mill, which adjoins the machine shop, and all efforts were thenceforth directed towards saving that, which was partly accomplished, the side nearest the fire receiving the most damage.

The men about the yard worked gallantly in rescuing property, and much was saved from the flames, including several cars which were run out of the burning buildings. Several gondolas, which were being either repaired or made over, were totally destroyed. They were in the long car shop where the fire originated, which was also burned to the ground and everything in it destroyed.

A supply house, located a little southeast of where the fire started, was also devoured by the flames and everything it contained destroyed.