WPBFD History

West Palm Beach firemen who had made a desperate at- tempt to put out the fire in the nearby Palm Beach Hotel. West Palm units were also responsible for quelling more than 50 fires in the area of Sunset Avenue. Ironically, Jacksonville Fire Chief T. W. Haney was in town to address the West Palm Beach Kiwanis Club on the inevitability of major fires. He had given his speech at the noon luncheon that day and no doubt took an active part in the battle that afternoon. Firemen and apparatus responded from as far away as Ft. Pierce and Miami. One truck from Stuart wrecked as it was passing through Riviera Beach. The apparatus was disabled with a broken wheel, but the hose was quickly unloaded and sent to the fire. All three West Palm Beach companies fought the fire while a meager reserve force stood-by at Central Station with ancient equipment. The cause of the fire was never determined, but offi-

Town Tonight." Martial law was declared and the Na- tional Guard patrolled the streets. Bridges were manned by sentries who checked cars for stolen property as they crossed. For a while it looked as if the flying brands would ignite Flagler’s huge Royal Poinciana Hotel. Five fires broke out on the roof but were doused with torrents of water from hose lines held by volunteers, working under the direction of West Palm Beach Fire Captain J. D. Smith. Acres of wet towels and clothes were spread over anything that might catch fire outside. A slight change in wind direction finally sent flying brands on a different course. Chief Sadler credited Captain Smith and his volun- teers with preventing the spread of fire into West Palm Beach. Sadler said, "Had the Poinciana really caught, it would have undoubtedly endangered West Palm Beach." The Bradley Club was saved by the hard work of

The Breakers Hotel fire—March 18, 1925 8