shrazed.html

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., August 6, 1959, page 1

Blaze Rages At Maryhill
SCHOOLHOUSE RAZED BY FIRE

The Maryhill Schoolhouse was completely destroyed in a fire which threatened the entire village Tuesday morning. Three trucks of Rural Fire District 7 were on the job within 15 minutes of the alarm, and they were joined later by the Centerville truck, one from the JayDee Trailer City, and another Goldendale truck.
The fire was discovered in a bunkhouse at the Mrs. U. Tsubota place, which was filled with smoke and flame on discovery. A stiff 40-mile wind was blowing from the west, and within minutes the flames had spread to a packing shed and other outbuildings. The rural trucks stationed at Maryhill, on its arrival with an untrained crew, started protective measures on the Tsubota house, where it was soon joined by the detachment from Goldendale.
The fire by now had gained considerable force, with sparks and burning material carried aloft and being spread eastward by the wind, and the old water tower behind the schoolhouse was the next target.
At about this juncture, the water supplies on the trucks gave out, and while they were refueling at the riverbank, the fire spread to the schoolhouse itself. By the time the department was back in the game, the two-story building was irrevocably committed to the flame.
In spite of the intense heat and the scattering effect of the wind, the loss was confined to the one building and a number of sheds, piles of wood and packing boxes. Spot fires spread up all over the vicinity, keeping volunteers on the hop to douse them. Fires were extinguished around the Maryhill store, postoffice and church, and as far east as the Bert Geer place. The Tsubota house escaped, though it was severely scorched on the north side.
Reinforcements arrived from many sources; a PUD crew working near the John Day dam, two 4000-gallon loads of water from John Day dam contractors, 3000 gallons on a truck brought by O.C. Murdock. Also, a swimming pool-full of water was offered and used, very close to the fire scene.
Fire Chief R.V. Blinn said four 500-gallon truck tank killings were made from the river before the swimming pool source was discovered, or the tanker trucks arrived. The chief expressed gratitude for the volunteer help given, without which control of the fire might not have been possible.
A total of 12 firemen responded from Goldendale, six men each of the two alarms. Two Goldendale pumpers were in operation, one of them under contract to the rural district. The fire afforded a good test for two tracks recently purchased by the rural district, a 500-gpm Dodge pumper and a new Jeep pickup with tanks and pump. Firemen were on duty at the fire for a total of six hours.