Five fires were reported in the Chief's Log in 1910, three in Malvern and two in Chester Valley. Of these, the most notable one occurred on Friday September 23, 1910 at 2 p.m. 'a request was made by phone from the Whiteman Estate farm in Chester Valley near Bacton Stations, stating that the barn was on fire and they were afraid the house would go—The Company quickly responded, making the run of 4 1/2 miles and having a stream on the fire in 35 minutes. The Company did good service, saving house, all the stabling for cows etc., with a full silo in fact considerable other property." The Company's January minutes reported a chimney fire December 22, 1909, on the Henry 8. Coxe estate with no damage.

Some of the expenses reported by the Company February 7 included root beer syrup, $13.25; Fife & Drum Corps teacher, $8.50; and carfare for the band to Reading, $31.68.

One false alarm and two barn fires, one in Chester Valley and one In Devault, were reported in 1911. For the latter, a fireman dammed up a small creek to provide water for the pumper.

"The Trustees made an agreement with David Kilpatrick to bring a pair of horses and wagon to the firehouse, whenever there was a fire alarm, to convey the firemen to the scene of fire," stated the minutes of March 21.

In February, 1912 the Trustees noted that they "have made an agreement with Walter Craft to take a pair of horses to the Firehouse in time of fire to draw the hose wagon to the fire."

The one fire recorded in 1913 was May 1 in a Hires Condensed Milk Co. building in which solder was melted. "Company responded with Hose wagon but fire so slight, that it was extinguished by Bucket Brigade. Loss not over $25."

The purchase of an "auto truck" was voted on at the December 26 Company meeting, along with a committee of five to solicit donations to finance it. Ordered from the Hale Motor Co., the truck cost $1,541.94.

Six fires in 1914 were recorded in the Chief's Log, starting with one at 12:45 a.m. New Year's day in the borough. The house was saved with a loss of about $50. A garage fire January 15 on State Road (now Paoli Pike) was answered by the Chief, who took the extinguisher and chemicals, and was driven there by Dr. Evans. Due to there being only one fire plug and the Paoli Fire Company having under control, the Company did not go into service at the January 31 fire at Dr. Adams' asylum in Paoli.

On August 26, "At 2:55 a.m. alarm was received that stable of the Atlantic Refining Co. was on fire. Company quickly responded with automobile apparatus, quickly had fire under control, but on account of great headway gained before alarms, the building was virtually destroyed, all surrounding buildings saved, loss on building about $1,400 on contents $100." Almost two years later, the Company's minutes recorded that "Motion carried that Secretary correspond with J.D. Rockefeller, to ask him to reimburse the Company for damages sustained to hose, at fire, when the Atlantic Refining Co's stable was burned down." Nothing further about the matter appears in the minutes.

Of the other three fires, one was an assist for Paoli October 1 at which "We quickly responded with the Auto Fire Engine and went into service, in about one half hour the fires was virtually out. We playing on same at request of Paoli Co. for some time after their Engine stopped." A lamp explosion in a Lancaster Avenue house required no service and a barn fire at Lancaster and Frazer Avenues, Frazer, saw the Company saving the surrounding property.

Thomas Haines & Company was contacted to "take members of the Fire Company to fires where the Company is called outside the borough limits in their Auto Truck" as reported at the October 8 Company meeting.

Five fires were noted in the Chief's Log for 1915, in Chester Valley, Devault, Green Tree and Goshenville. The Ogden house fire September 24 was out by the time the Company arrived, "the fire caused by leaving lighted lamp on table burning all night." On December 25, "An alarm of fire was received by phone about 8:30 a.m, stating that the home of Mr. Armstrong, King Road near Three Tons—-was on fire. The Company responded, by sleds, etc. doing all that could be done, The Engine after hard fight through snow drifts, etc. reached there, but being no water near, did not go into service. The house only was destroy other buildings being saved." This must have been a memorable Christmas for all.

Bills at the November 4 meeting included $2.00 for 8 quarts of Ice cream C.F. Boehmler and $13 for two tons of egg coal from C.T. Biddison. "Mr. T.N. Pyle, offered as a prize, a 5 dollar pair of shoes, to the members of the fire company who brought in the names of the most applicants during the next six months, and a vote of thanks was extended to him for same."

Four fires in Malvern, Willistown, and Green Tree were recorded in 1916, two house fires, the Hires Condensed Milk Co. pumping station, and the Green Tree Railroad station. One of the rare references to World War I occurred in the July 6 Company minutes. "On motion, the Company decided to keep W.F. Magil in good standing during time the Government requires him, and Secretary was instructed to write him, and to give him the best wishes of the Company."

Two fires were reported July 27, 1917. "An alarm was received about 2:00 a.m. by phone that slaughter house and barn of Kurtz Shank was afire. The Company responded very quickly with auto engine as also the Paoli Fire Co. with chemicals. After several hours hard work we gained control saving the house and adjoining building, the barn and slaughter house being totally destroyed house and barn were built less than twenty feet apart only the weather boards next to barn were partly burned. An alarm was received about 3 a.m. that stable of W.J. Burkey was on fire. The Company turned out quickly but did not go into service as building past saving when we arrived and was total loss."

At the April 5, 1917 Company meeting, "On motion the Secretary was instructed to write to the Congressman of this district, Thos. S. Butler, to ask him to convey to the President, in behalf of the Malvern Fire Co., the following resolution:

"Resolved that the Malvern Fire Co. pledges its support to the President in the present crisis of the country."

One fire was recorded by the Chief on November 11, 1918. "An alarm v. sounded at about 11:l5 a.m. that house of C.S. Everett was on fire. The company responded and found parlor on second floor ablaze, we used chemicals only and after a stubborn fight succeeded in putting fire out with very little damage considering the nature of fire."

Four fires were noted in 1919 by Chief S.B. Grubb. The Hires Condensed Milk plant was destroyed January 17 and a fire on some coal bins put out. To a a.m. fire in January at Sidney Gooding's house "The Company responded with auto pump and went into action. Owing to the headway fire had when we arrived it was impossible to save same, and was totally destroyed." The January 2 notation was "We were called to the house of Tony Martin and found out house afire which was quickly subdued by a stream from plug." The last recorded fire in 1919 was March 1. " alarm was sounded for a fire at home of Elwood Diem, the Company quickly responded and found fire in attic which was soon put out with chemicals and with very little damage."

Continued

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