Armstrong County PA Disasters
Fires
Taken From the Warren Morning Mirror (Warren, Pennsylvania)
March 2, 1928
Kittaning Fire Gains Headway
Kittanning, Pa., Mar. 2. - Flames were raging in the business section of this city early today, having broken out again after it was thought it had been extinguished. Six large buildings, comprising almost an entire block, had been destroyed while the fire burned unchecked, in the Linnon Hotel, a corner building. Fireman believed there was little hope of saving the hotel and were concentrating their efforts on averting the spreading of the flames to nearby buildings. It was believes the fire started from an overheated furnace in the King Shoe Store, the first building destroyed. The flames spread rapidly to the Deihl Clothing store, the Moesta clothing store and the H. H. Meyimer building. Shortly after 11 p.m. when it was thougth the fire was checked the flames leaped to the Linnen Hotel, in the basement of which the Farmer's National Bank is located. Another smaller building was also destroyed. All available fire fighting apparatus from surrounding towns were fighting the flames which at 1:30 a.m. today were still burning.
Taken From the Warren Morning Mirror (Warren, Pennsylvania)
March 3, 1928
Kittanning Damage Is Estimated at 285,000
A checkup of loss as a result of the fire which destroyed seven buildings in the business district here last night and early today brought the total to $285,000. The origin of the blaze, although not definitely determined was believed to have been an oeverheated furnace in a shoe store. Among the places damaged were L. E. Biehl Clothing Store, King's Shoe Store, the Moseta and Son store, J. L. Apple Department Store and the H. G. Luker company.
Six nearby towns sent apparatus to assist local fireman and fifteen streams of water were played on the burning structures for several hours before the fire was brought under control. The firemen came from Butler, McCain, Leechburg, Apollo and Vandergrift.
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