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Show S. L. FIRE LOSS NEARLY TWICE PREVIOUS YEAR Figure for January, '39, ' Almost Equals That of 1938 I Nearly $500,000 In property was destroyed by fires in Salt Lake City during 1939, Fire Chief Walter Wal-ter S. Knight stated in his annual report Thursday. More than doubling the 1938 loss, a total destruction of $483,555 was recorded. . . January figures last year almost equaled the 1938 total of $305,194, with Its loss of $20447 resulting from four fires. The Parts company com-pany suffered a $72,610.38 property prop-erty and merchandise loss and the on January 26 when fire occurred in the structure in which the stores are housed. Most Spectacular . Moat spectacular of the year was the U. P. hotel fire, which endangered the lives of 45 persons on September IX Eleven persons were Injured, two seriously. About 20 persons were carried from the burning building by firemen. A gas explosion wss given as cause of the blaze, which caused $42.809 3 damage to the building at 380 West .South Temple street On February 14, the school of mines building at the University of Utah burned after an explosion of benzine that had been heating on an electric plate. A $39,037.17 loss wsa recorded. Oddest fire of the year occurred In a garage at 130 ELst Broadway on January 16. M. Thirl Marsh of 747 Garden avenue ruined to get some water to put out a fire on his service coat caused by a short circuit in a battery charger. ' Spills Gasoline He fell over a two-gallon container con-tainer of gasoline, spilling it on the floor and Igniting it with the fire from hi coat. It resulted in a loss of $2329.25. The fire department made 1238 runs during the year, including 59 false alarms, 154 .'unnecessary runs, 194 grass fires and 126 roof fires. . , 'Of 44 fires resulting In damage of $1000 or more, six were set by children playing with matches, four oyer : caused, by,- clgarets, seven -were !gnte4 tjy spontaneous spontane-ous combustion, four from chimney chim-ney sparks, two incendiary, three from , overheated: stoves and . furnaces, fur-naces, and five had undetermined causes, , j ! ', - ' . |