Fire Fighting
Volunteers, Bucket Lines, Fire Brigades, and Water Pressure

"Vernon Parish Democrat," December 2, 1920

"In the afternoon Comrade Fred Waters set fire to some rubbish, which spread to a grass fire, and a call for help came when the bell rang and the big whistle blew. A crowd of firefighters were soon on the job and the danger overcome. One of the houses caught fire, but was soon extinguished. The girls and boys have been trained to fight grass fires, for they did well with their wet sacks."

"Llano Colonist", November 4, 1922

"Fire Fiend Threatens Llano -- A fire alarm aroused the late sleepers at Newllano on Wednesday morning, November 1, unpleasantly out of their slumbers. At first it was supposed to be the breakfast bell from the hotel inviting the hungry to the morning repast.. But, looking in the direction of the printshop, ye editor saw a red glare in that part of the Colony, yelled fire, grabbed his bucket with water and ran down, yelling "Fire" at every jump, roused the fireman to blow the whistle; and soon men, women, and children came running from every direction, armed with buckets of water. A movable roof over the brick kiln had caught fire from the heat of the kiln and was all ablaze. It had been placed over the kiln on Tuesday afternoon to protect the brick from a heavy downpour of rain. The fire was soon extinguished, only the top of the roof being destroyed, while the side frame was saved practically undamaged. Fortunately there was no wind; otherwise, our new roof garden might have been in grave danger."

"Llano Colonist", April 8, 1933 (Story of Llano)

"[In April 1925] the new Industrial Building was about completed and most of the departments for which it was planned were operating in it... The office was in the new building with all the most important records. The store was there, with a stock of upwards of $4,000 of merchandise. The garage, machine shop and tin shop were housed there; and it was the center of the creative activity of the industrial section.

Then, on the evening of April 14th, at about 8 o'clock, the word was suddenly given that the Industrial Building was on fire. The giving of the alarm summoned scores of willing hands. The fire department came from Leesville, but too late to be of much help. The interior of the building was of frame, and this, giving way as it burned, pulled down the upper part of the walls. But little could be saved out of the furnace heat; and in the excitement that always accompanies a fire, those who might have saved the records of the colony's years of experience suddenly discovered that they had been carrying out relatively unimportant things.

The fire started in the upstairs section. There was a well-defined suspicion that the fire had been set, by one who wished to cover up the record of his own misdeeds and fraud against the colony. But the loss of approximately $100,000 in building, equipment and stock was a terrific price to pay for the carelessness and criminality of one man..."

"Llano Colonist", February 18, 1928

"Llano Colony has joined up with the government in keeping down grass and forest fires. A fire warden tower is located east and south of the colony about eleven miles away and when a fire breaks out we are notified and if Baldwin is here he takes a crew to the fire and they fight it out. Today, Baldwin is at the rice ranch; so Harold Kemp, Vic Gaddis, Roscoe Busick, Bennie Hewett, John Armacost, Jr. and Brooks Merrell answered a call. Let me tell you our boys (none of these boys are over 16 years of age) have a great reputation as fire fighters. There are other boys here who go out on this job too, but five or six at a time is enough. It is a good training for the boys and they are doing valuable work. The ranger says the colony kids are among his best fire fighters."

"Llano Colonist", March 3, 1928

"Well folks, last night we had no dance, but we had another kind of frolic. Frolic, did I say?... Frolic it was alright. We, a whole bunch of 'us kids', went out after supper to fight a forest fire north of the dairy and we put in our best licks and enjoyed the fun - while at it. It was real fun alright, you bet. Not the fire itself, but fighting it. At volunteer work, such as this, and at all other team work, is where the Llano spirit shines at its best -- the spirit of mutual goodwill and community team work."

"Llano Colonist", September 29, 1928

"The subject discussed at this time was The Best Building Material for the Colony's permanent homes. Atworth spoke in favor of the Pise or Rammed Earth method of house building, two of which he had seen in California, one a one story structure, the other a two story building. Ted Landrum was proponent for Brick or Tile buildings... All were in favor that the homes should be constructed in such a way as to be of a maximum 'fire-resisting' character.

However the Colony should use its own building material to the limit and make no purchases on credit and place no burden of debt on the Colony for building purposes. Carelessness, it was declared, was chiefly responsible for most fires, when they are not of incendiary origin. With proper caution most fires can be avoided."

"Vernon Parish Democrat," February 7, 1929

"Two fire alarms within the week. Our fire brigade is developing wonderful alertness and alacrity in response to the signal for help, and the frisky fire demons are soon put to rout. A good suggestion coming from Comrade Condon should be put into effect as early as possible. The hose cart shelter should be on or near the top of the hill, thus saving the up-hill pull and making it easier to get under headway with full breath and energy for a quick run."

"Llano Colonist," February 9, 1929

"Dick Condon spoke of the importance of providing adequate fire protection and to take the necessary steps of preventing their occurrence. Parents should prevent their children from playing with matches. Space around the spearate houses and the roofs should be kept free from pine-needles and leaves. A fire department should be organized and drill weekly. The matter is to be brought up at the foremen's meeting and before the board for prompt action."

"Llano Colonist," February 16, 1929

"A fire in the roof of the hospital this afternoon was promptly extinguished by a long ladder being hoisted and a lithe colonist thus mounting and dashing pails of water on the blaze. The fire hose was unrolled and got ready for action but the present water pressure is not sufficint [sic] to throw a high stream."

"Llano Colonist," March 9, 1929

"While sitting in my little home about nine o'clock, I heard the fire alarm bell from the hotel, summoning everyone to battle the fire fiend. As I stepped out of my front door, I saw Dick Condon in charge of the hose cart running in my direction; and looking south I saw smoke arising from the roof of the bachelors' house and a number of boys with buckets on top extinguishing the incipient conflagration. The shrill fire whistle of the ice plant too was heard, but the fire had no show against the onslaught of our youthful fire fighters.

Some seven years ago when I had a room in the same building a blaze also occurred, but was promptly drownded [sic] out. Men without families live at that particular house. Most of them are widowers, not bachelors."

"Llano Colonist," March 16, 1929

"The first major event this morning was the call for a crew to fight a 'grass-fire' which was starting up somewheres out on the hills south-west of the town, about four miles out. Warren took a load of young men out in his 'Hybrid' truck, also accompanied by Curly. The job was done before the fire had got much of a start. These young 'huskies' are always ready for adventure and first when ever the fire signal is sounded."

"Llano Colonist," November 22, 1930

"The proposal was recently made that the Young Workers organize themselves for a fire crew to train for services in case of a fire and to take charge of the fire equipment. Comrade "Tex" Paul was elected as fire chief. Since there are several fire fighters of considerable experience in the club, the firemen's crew should make itself effective force against Demon Fire is sure."

"Llano Colonist," March 14, 1931

"We were aroused from our slumbers about four o'clock by the fire alarm... and from the ominous glare of the blaze it appeared as though our entire industrial plant was burning up as an enourmous headway had been gained before the fire was discovered even though we had two workmen on the job.

Just how the fire started nobody knows and we are the last people to become suspicious of an incident of this kind but after a thorough investigation we found that the bell at the hotel which is used in conjunction with the whistle as a fire alarm had been turned over in such a way that it took Comrade Peterson quite a little time to find out what was wrong before the alarm could be sounded. This and the fact that the blaze seemed to have spread unusually fast, seem to indicate that it was done by someone who wished to cause us a heavy loss. However we hope not and of course could not help it if he did.

The steam plant was entirely burned down as well as the new bath house and the sewing department with a total loss. We just had had this sewing department furnished with power machines and better equipment than ever before and it made quite a loss in that department as well as the loss of our fine new bath house, all of which we will miss very much until we get them replaced.

An enormous amount of dress goods, bedding, materials for shirts, etc, and our entire stock were destroyed. All the sewing machines and the entire equipment for the bath house were a complete loss and all of this equipment must be replaced at once.

The power plant, which was also totally burned out, we are going to enlarge by the installation of one more big boiler. We will now have to re-build the entire plant. Of course we will put one boiler back to work at once to take care of the laundry, veneer factory, drying shed, candy kitchen, cannery, bakery and part of the planing mill..."

"Llano Colonist," April 23, 1932

"While the show was going on in our theater at night the cry of "fire" was raised and some of the children were about ready to stampede, when Doc. Williams appeared on the stage and told us that the fire was south of our garage. As our community extends away beyond that point I wondered whose house it could be that was burning. Our hose cart made a run and all the younger people raced for the point of the conflagration that cast its lurid glare over the landscape.

However, it was Lenahan's house, a neighbor about a quarter of a mile south of our townsite, that was burning. I regret to say it was beyond the reach of our water system, our hose line could not reach it and the whole house, erected out of pine lumber, burned down to the ground. We would have been glad to help save it, if in our power.

I felt grateful that it was not one of our houses that had fallen a victim to the fire moloch. We have been fortunate in this respect all winter. In the past our fire losses have been very heavy and as we carry no insurance, it has been a total loss. What caused the loss as a whole it is difficult to say. Some of it no doubt was due to carelessness while in a few instances indications pointed to an incendiary origin, although definite proof was lacking.

Our pine knots make a very hot fire; and only today one of our members was telling me how he saw sparks coming out of a neighbor's house, and when he walked in, he found the stovepipe redhot clear to the ceiling. This is certainly a very reprehensible carelessness. The buildings in this colony belong to all of us and to each one of us just as much as to every other one. Hence no thoughtful person would run the risk of thoughtlessly burning down his home, especially not when there is no insurance of making good the loss. So let everybody be utmost careful to avoid fire or any other loss to the colony, of which each one of us is a member. -- C.H.G."

"Llano Colonist," June 30, 1934

"Meditation... sent me sleepless to bed, but I was rudely wrenched from my reveries by the lusty cry of... Fire! Fire! Fire!

Hastily dressing, I took up the cry to the best of my poor abilities, but my success may be measured by the fact that even after breakfast the fire was strictly news to many of the colonists. Anyway, we did muster a corporal's guard, with a few supernumeraries, to witness the incineration of one of Cooley's dry kilns, with some 8000 or 10,000 feet of lumber. Our hosecart was led out, and with the aid of a perfectly windless night, we localized the blaze. The Leesville fire department was called, but they must have decided with Woodrow Wilson, "We cannot be forever going to a fire." They came not. Nevertheless, with all our goods and gear intact we thank whatever gods may be for the perfect stillness that contrived with us to avoid a holocaust, and we don't mind a little kinship with the Pharisee in this regard."

(From the Junior Co-operator) "Fire! -- About three o'clock Monday morning my father was awakened by someone yelling "Fire!! fire!" When he got it through his head that something was the matter he got up and looked out. I should say fire. One of the dry kilns down by the saw mill was burning. It was all pine lumber. I don't know how I awoke but anyway I was awake and tearing down the streeet and in my pajamas too. (The boys took time to get into their clothes.) I was out in the street yelling when I heard Tom Cunningham shout "Ring that bell!" The fire bell is right by our house. I did ring the bell or tried to. I had to climb up on the derrick to reach the rope, even then it was hard to find. The fire made a pretty bright light but the bell was in the shadow. After I had rung the bell awhile I decided it didn't make enough noise so I started up to ring the hotel bell. As I was tearing past Watson's, Mrs. Watson called, "Where're you going, Jane?" Just then the hotel bell started to ring and I said, "Nowhere now." I stopped running then because lights were coming on everywhere.

Pretty soon I went down to the highway to watch the fire. The men had to move a stack of lumber that was right beside the kiln. All this time I was in my pajamas so I decided I would go home and put on some clothes. By this time the excitement was dying down so instead of going back to watch the fire I went back to bed -- after I had dressed.

But at least I did ring the fire bell. And I hope the well comes in and that bell gets oiled before I have to ring it again."

"Llano Colonist," December 28, 1935

"Fire At Dry Kiln -- Soon after dinner, Mr. Joynes observed from his home, that the Banta dry-kiln at the lumber yard was on fire. He rang the fire bell that hangs on a tower near his house, and ran to the scene of the action. An inadequate hose had to be eked out by carrying buckets. He impressed into service a man with a small truck, and they went to the hospital, where a fire-hose reel is always in readiness. They loaded it onto the car, and Mr. Joynes had a wild ride, while holding onto the handle of the reel to steady it, and with the other hand keeping himself from being thrown out. The additional length of hose was soon attached, and the fire extinguished."

"Llano Colonist," February 1, 1936

"Fire Alarm! -- At about 7 P.M. two of the young men were sitting by the big stove in the hotel dining-room, when the telephone, close by, rang. On taking down the receiver an excited voice from the ice plant said: "Do you know that your hotel is on fire?" Well, the soot inside of the chimney was burning furiously, and flames were leaping out of it, sparks falling in dangerous profusion. A bucket brigade was quickly started. Meanwhile others went after the big hose at the hospital. But on being connected, it was found to leak badly in so many places that it was not of much use. However, the pails' proved effective and the roof did not catch fire. Had this happened two nights before, when a strong wind was blowing, we would probably be minus our much needed hotel, which is the vital center of all colony life.

Ernie Prudhon, Andrew Madigan, Joe Billick, and Hans Holmgren were on the roof, taking a leading part in the fire fighting activities. The slippery, wet roof caused some near spills as they guarded against sparks setting fire to the pine shingles. Others assisted in handling the hose and buckets, and no damage resulted."

"Llano Colonist," March 28, 1936

"Banta Mill Burns -- The Banta Planing Mill at the colony was completely destroyed by fire last Thursday morning. About 3:15 Nightwatchman Jim Cox discovered the fire in a pile of shavings close to the boiler. Before he could get a bucket of water it was spreading so rapidly he had to summon help.

Gunshots, whistles and bells aroused the populace and within a few minutes there were lots of people present with no buckets, no hope, nothing to do but ask somebody else something like, "Where's the hose?" In due time the Llano hose cart arrived on the scene followed a few minutes later by the Leesville fire department.

By this time the entire plant was in flames leaping high into the air. Men began carrying away lumber which was already burning next to the mill. The Leesville department engine was connected, which accounts in a large measure for the fact that the entire yard of lumber and probably the main colony planing mill was not lost. Had there been a little wind, oh, boy!

Some of the equipment, the boiler, and possibly the large planer, may be salvaged.

While considerable lumber was damaged, there was but comparatively little entirely lost. The colony lost a couple of piles of fine hardwood lumber which was piled close to the mill. No damage was done to the saw mill but a few yards away."

"Fire Protection -- The fire Thursday morning showed up the weakness of Llano fire protection. Several things are needed to insure adequate protection. New hose, free from leaks, is probably the greatest need. A new pump and a larger volume tank are further requirements for adequate protection. Well, maybe someday -- "

"Banta to Rebuild -- Mr. Ray Banta, manager of the Triangle Timber Products Co., started immediate rebuilding of the planing mill which burned last Thursday morning. Work was started at once on clearing the site and repairing the machinery which had gone through the fire."

"Llano Colonist," May 16, 1936

"Fire Destroys Kiln of Lumber In Morning Blaze -- In an early morning blaze on Tuesday a dry kiln of about 8000 feet of fine lumber was destroyed at the Colony mill.

The conflagration started at about 5:30, only a few minutes after the regular morning pandemonium whistle blowing. When the whistle was blown for the fire, residents considered it only a continuation of the whistle blowing which is a regular early rising menu. Consequently, but very few people rushed to the fire. Few minutes later a fire bell rang, then people began to realize something was doing somewhere.

In the meantime, a few people got the old rotten hose out and hitched to a hydrant. By the time the kinks were out and a little water got past the leaks, and reached the fire, it was about as effective as an ordinary squirt gun.

The Leesville fire department responded to a call, too late to save the lumber, but confined the fire to the kiln. This is the second time the Leesville department has been called recently, the previous call when the Banta planing mill burned. At that time they did fine service in preventing the spreading of the fire.

The kiln of lumber lost was the property of R.A. Banta."