RICE-KINDER LUMBER COMPANY
Lents
June 18, 1918: "Fire, believed to be of incendiary origin, completely wiped out the plant of the Rice-Kinder Lumber Company, located at 100th and Foster road in Lents, at 6;30 o'clock last night. The loss is estimated at between $60,000 and $70,000, covered by $15,000 insurance.
Within one hour from the time the fire burst through the roof of the main sawmill plant, the main plant, planing mill and dry kiln were a smoldering mass of ruins. Four engine companies and one truck company of the fire department responded to the call. Chief B. F. Dowell and Chief Harry Johnson directed the firemen in fighting the blaze.
The plant, which is owned by the East Side Lumber Company, is a total loss. The property was appraised at $99,000 by the fire underwriters. In addition to the loss of the plant by fire, between $8000 and $10,000 of sawed lumber piled in the yards of the mill was destroyed by the blaze. Three freight cars standing on the siding at the lumber yard were consumed by the blaze. They were partly filled with lumber which had been loaded for shipment. In addition, several logging cars on the main track next to the mill were burned up and the trolley wires of the Estacada line, which hauled the logs to the mill, were melted by the blaze and fell across the track.
The fire was noticed to burst from the roof of the main sawmill plant at 6:30 o'clock by workmen and neighbors in the vicinity. Without warning, a sheet of flame and smoke burst through the roof and quickly spread to other parts of the mill." (Morning Oregonian)
Within one hour from the time the fire burst through the roof of the main sawmill plant, the main plant, planing mill and dry kiln were a smoldering mass of ruins. Four engine companies and one truck company of the fire department responded to the call. Chief B. F. Dowell and Chief Harry Johnson directed the firemen in fighting the blaze.
The plant, which is owned by the East Side Lumber Company, is a total loss. The property was appraised at $99,000 by the fire underwriters. In addition to the loss of the plant by fire, between $8000 and $10,000 of sawed lumber piled in the yards of the mill was destroyed by the blaze. Three freight cars standing on the siding at the lumber yard were consumed by the blaze. They were partly filled with lumber which had been loaded for shipment. In addition, several logging cars on the main track next to the mill were burned up and the trolley wires of the Estacada line, which hauled the logs to the mill, were melted by the blaze and fell across the track.
The fire was noticed to burst from the roof of the main sawmill plant at 6:30 o'clock by workmen and neighbors in the vicinity. Without warning, a sheet of flame and smoke burst through the roof and quickly spread to other parts of the mill." (Morning Oregonian)