Firemen Recover As Probe Goes On

Firemen Recover As Probe Goes On

As the last of six smoke-felled firemen reported back to work this morning, a State Fire Marshal's team continued investigation to-determine the cause of a $100,000 blaze at 6 p.m. Monday in the State Liquor Store at 113 W. Huron.

Benjamin Zahn, jr., overcome by smoke while battling the basement fire, was released from St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital at 6:30 p.m. last night. Five other firemen who had been similiarly overcome by the billowing smoke were released from the hospital earlier.

A report from the State Liquor Control Commission this morning indicated loss at about $150,000. But Jack McDermott, manager of the local store, said that an on-the-spot inventory of his stock had encouraged him to believe that actual loss would be much less than was first anticipated.

State Health Department officials and a liquor analyst were conducting the inventory with McDermott to determine how much of the stock can be salvaged. Any loss is covered by the State Insurance Fund, the Liquor Commission reported.

Fire marshals and Chief Ernest Heller of the city department determined yesterday that the fire had broken out definitely just inside a small store room under the sidewalk. To get sufficient water on the blaze Monday, firemen had to wait until air hammers cut holes through the sidewalk and into the store room.

The fire Monday was one of the most difficult in the memory of veteran firemen, although the damage to the building was not extensive. The location of the blaze and the dangerous smoke made it impossible to get at the origin until the sidewalk was cut through.