This Day in History: 1934-03-20

A spectacular fire destroyed the Wayne Avenue Fire House in Suffern.  The fire was discovered by Police eOfficer Edson Thompson at 1:45 AM when he saw a glow in the sky.  He tried to turn in an alarm, but the fire had already melted the pipe carrying the wire to the siren and it did not sound.  The message was received at the Hook and Ladder Company’s bell and Assistant Chief Harry Carlough and Captain Louis Attena responded.  Just before they got there, the roof collapsed into the second floor meeting room.  The remainder of the building was filled with smoke but they were able to batter open the doors and save the two fire trucks.  Meanwhileother firemen were notified by telephone, by fire trucks which circulated the village with their sirens wailing and by the whistle on a locomotive on the Erie.  Telephone operators at the exchange cooperated fully in arousing the firemen who had phones.  While Thompson was attempting to rouse the firemen he found a notice to release a prisoner from the lockup located near the fire station.  He hastened to do so, although the lockup was not damaged I the fire.  Beside the fire trucks, little was saved from the fire.  It was surmised that the blaze had started in an electrical short circuit in the attic of the building.

(Bristow)