1942 Press Photo Fire destroys Spang-Chalfant, Inc. Etna War plant - nei07524

This is an original press photo. Firemen from six communities battle fire which destroyed a war-busy plant of Spang-Chalfant, Inc., at Etna late yesterday. Company officials estimated the loss at $500,000 and nine workmen narrowly escaped injury from exploding molten metal. At top, firemen draw water from Pine Creek to feed hose lines. Below, another group of fire-fighters plays water on the blazing debris. $500,000 Fire Destroys Etna War Plant; 9 Escape. Explosion of Molten Metal Starts Flames in Pipe Mill of National Supply Co., on Butler St. Fire, set off by an explosion of molten metal, destroyed the pipe mill of the National Supply Co., Spang-Chalfant division, in Butler St., Etna, last night. The plant was producing war materials and company officials estimated the loss at $500,000. Nine workmen fled from the building, to escape the molten enamel, hurled from a baking oven by an explosion. One man was burned on the hands but not seriously. Cause Undetermined - Cause of the blast was undetermined but S.W. Bremmer, works manager, said he believed it was set off by a spark from other equipment. Mr. Bremmer estimated the loss at $300,000 in equipment, all of which was less than two years old, and $200,000 in machinery and the building. Fred Buckholtz, one of the nine men in the mill, said that only "a few seconds" after the blast "everything in the plant was ablaze." Help Summoned - The entire building, of frame and corrugated iron, 200 feet long and 125 wide, was burning when Etna firemen arrived at 6:30 p.m. Help immediately was summoned from Millvale, Sharpsburg, Park View, Cherry Hill, Bauerstown and Sharp's Hill. It was after 8 p.m. before the flames finally were brought under control. The flames leaped high into the air and hundreds of persons jammed the scene snarling traffic. The man burned was George Black, 45, a foreman of Rochester, ....Photo measures 9.25 x 7inches. Photo is dated 10-23-1942.

Part Number: nei07524

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