Fire: Spectacular Fire at C & H Refinery Causes Big Loss
Volunteer Fire Department Fights Oil Fire Successfully
About a thousand dollar loss was incurred at the C & H refinery in Lusk Last Friday morning when a large quantity of fuel oil in an underground reservoir caught fire, destroying the building over it, valued at about $500, and burning about $500 worth of oil in the reservoir.
The fire made a spectacular scene, with flames and large clouds of heavy black smoke rolling skyward. Many nearby ranchers, believing the whole town was being destroyed, came to town to witness the blaze.
The Lusk Volunteer Fire Department fought the blaze valiantly and it was due principally to their efforts that the adjacent building and stills were saved.
A strong southwestern wind whipped the flames onto the adjoining building, which was covered with sheet iron, but two streams of water were kept constantly on the structure, and prevented spread of the flames.
Had the adjoining building become ignited, the adjoining storage tanks, filled with gasoline and distillate would have exploded and the loss of life and property would probably have been great.
The fireman used all available fire extinguishers in town to put out the burning oil, and the large chemical tank on the fire wagon was filled several times.