Seventy years ago, Carroll County was reeling from the aftermath of fireworks of an unwelcome variety -- one of the biggest fires in the county's history occurred on July 3, 1938 at the Smith & Reifsnider lumber yard on John Street.

On July 8, 1938, a front-page article in the defunct Democratic Advocate newspaper conveyed the grave concern of the community over the fire. "Westminster citizens had the scare of the their lifetime Saturday night when a fire from an incendiary origin was discovered in the lumber yard of Smith & Reifsnider, which caused an undetermined loss, but estimated at $125,000."

At the time the company was solely owned by John L. Reifsnider Jr. According to the article, Reifsnider fed the firefighters "sandwiches and coffee at the American Restaurant after the fire was brought under control."

The first alarm was sounded at 11:45 p.m. by night watchman John Baile, and both pieces of firefighting equipment owned by the Westminster Volunteer Fire Department responded.

The fire department chief in 1938 was Leroy Brown, who immediately put in a call for additional help. Firefighters from 16 fire departments with 19 pieces of apparatus responded from Union Bridge, Hampstead; Manchester, Taneytown, Pleasant Valley, Sykesville, Emmitsburg, Catonsville, Reisterstown, Owings Mills, Glyndon and Pikesville.

Union Bridge arrived in 14 minutes, slightly before Reisterstown, "who also broke all records for speed." It was estimated that more than 200 volunteers fought the flames, using an estimated 17,000 feet (more than 3 miles) of fire hose.

Chief Brown was praised for "his masterly generalship" in bringing the fire, "which was a raging furnace," under control by 3 a.m.

"Every fireman fought as if it depended upon his life, knowing if the fire was not held in the lumber where it started the city was in for a big loss and would sweep to Main street," said a newspaper account. "A high wind kept blowing the debris over the city ... but citizens protected their homes and buildings by pouring water on the roofs."

Firefighting remains a dangerous business, and that was the case 70 years ago. The newspaper reported the firefighters who were injured fighting the blaze: "William McCoy, a volunteer fireman from the Sykesville company, was overcome by smoke and burned about the face and hands. Dr. S. Luther Bare set up an emergency station and treated McCoy and the others.

"One fireman from the Hampstead company suffered a broken nose and three others from the same company were burned ... (O)ther firemen were treated for slight burns and returned to fight the blaze ..."

Other injured firefighters included Hampstead Fire Chief John W. Murray and "Bud" Arbaugh, who were overcome by smoke. Charles R. Williams and Oscar Armacost suffered cuts and bruises and Stewart Thompson suffered bruises.

State police "rushed to the scene immediately to handle the traffic. ... One autoist was arrested when he ran his car over a line of hose. ... The reflection of Saturday night's fire brought people from York, Hanover, McSherrystown and Frederick. The crowd was estimated at about 5,000 that watched the firemen from the railroad tracks and surrounding points."

Fortunately, the only fireworks witnessed by thousands this past weekend were at the Carroll County Farm Museum. Hopefully, as you celebrated our nation's birthday this past weekend, you kept the future of our great nation and the safety of these public servants who protect us, in your prayers.

By the way, where was the location of the Smith & Reifsnider lumber yard? Today that site is occupied by the Westminster Volunteer Fire Department.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at kdayhoff@carr.org.

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