The Courier-News/1913/Conflagration In Bound Brook

Conflagration In Bound Brook. Serious Blaze Caused by Gasoline Explosion Caused a Loss of $25,000. The Rain Was Timely. Mr. Ryno, in Whose Place the Explosion Occurred, Had a Narrow Escape From Fatal Injuries. Fire in Bound Brook entailing what is estimated to be a $25,000 property loss was caused here early last night by an explosion of gasoline in Ryno's plumbing establishment in East street. Had it not been for the heavy downpour of rain, the loss and burned area would unquestionably have been much larger, as the nature of the buildings would have made them an easy prey to the flames, despite the heroic efforts of the firemen. The building in which the blaze originated was entirely burned as was also David Cavalier's plumbing store next door. The fruit store conducted by D. Bertoli, at East and Main streets, was badly damaged and the stock almost ruined by smoke and water. George Efinger's bowling alleys and sporting goods store in Main street were badly gutted and the flames were just eating their way into George B. Lindauer's paint store when gotten under control. The street on which the burned buildings face is the one used by the main line trolleys plying between Bound Brook, Plainfield and New Brunswick. All traffic was held up for an hour on these lines by the hose across the tracks. On account of the rain, the crowd-watching the fire was not as large as it would have been otherwise. Mr. Ryno was at work in his shop when the explosion took place and miraculously escaped serious injury. The inflammable fluid spread over the interior of the store and in a trice it was a raging furnace. Patrolman Gregory, on duty in the neighborhood heard the bang and reached the store a moment later. A glance told him the story. Only waiting to see that Mr. Ryno was not hurt, Gregory pulled box 23, bringing the apparatus. There was to have been a duckpin tournament on Efinger's alleys and as most of the bowlers were on hand, the firemen had plenty of assistance. The hose was laid in in record time, but the two plumbing shops were too far gone to save and attention was directed to the adjacent buildings. As they join at the rear and are located on a corner it was a difficult matter to get the water where it would do the most good. The estimate was roughly placed and subsequent investigation may materially reduce the figures. Most of the structures are not new and were not costly. The contents were also of an inexpensive nature. The location of the buildings is considered the best for business purposes in the town and it is almost assured that they will be immediately rebuilt.