DATE: March 5, 1947

TO: J.V. Bennett, Commissioner, Federal Prison Industries, Inc. Wash. D.C.

This is to follow up the teletype message I gave you this morning as follows:

About 11:30 last night we had a small fire west end of Laundry. A pile of blankets taken from drying tumbler piled on floor near balers ignited apparently spontaneous combustion. Lieutenant of Watch making rounds smelled smoke gave alarm. Employees responded in great number put out fire in few minutes. Small blaze but lots of smoke. About one hundred second hand blankets completely or partially destroyed.

The officer on duty in the Armory phoned to me at my residence about 11:40 and told me that there was a fire at the west end of the Laundry, so I hurried to the location where I found a number of our officers already present with fire engine and equipment and using the chemical extinguishers on the pile of blankets. When I surveyed the matter and checked with the Associate Warden and the Lieutenants I found that Instructor Ellis Jones, who was acting Lieutenant of the Evening Watch, was making his rounds of te Island about 11:30 and he smelled smoke in the area near the double gates under the Hill Tower. He went through the double gates and traced it to the west end of the Laundry and immediately sent in a fire call to which there was a quick response with men and equipment. It also appeared that the Officer on patrol duty had been through the Laundry and made his watch call at 11:00 at which time there was no indication of any fire. When I got there, the smoke in the Laundry was very dense. There didn't appear to be much breeze blowing, but when the blaze was put out we opened all the windows and doors at other end of the Laundry in order to clear smoke. I examined all around the place where the blaze had been and where they were sweeping out rubbish and came to the conclusion that the fire was caused by blankets being taken from the drying tumbler and being piled near the baler. Probably the blankets were piled too high and too compact instead of being spread out so they could cool. All the indications pointed to spontaneous combustion. Enclosed is a copy of a report made to me by Mr. Manning. Also report of fire dept. activity in the matter.

J.A. JOHNSTON
Warden

FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INC.
Alcatraz, Calif.

March 5, 1947

To: The Warden, United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz, Calif.

Subject: Fire in the Laundry

About 100 blankets were destroyed, or partly destroyed in the fire that broke out last night in the laundry. The blankets came from the Water Division, Fort Mason, California.

It is almost certain that the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion. The blankets were taken out of the dry tumblers at about 3:30 yesterday afternoon.

Every possible precaution will be exercised to avoid a recurrence of this kind.

FEDERAL PRISONS INDUSTRIES, INC.

By: C.J. Manning,
Bus. Mgr.

United States Penitentiary,
Alcatraz, California
Wednesday, March 5, 1947

TO: J.A. Johnston, Warden
VIA: E.J. Miller, Assoc. Warden
FROM: P.R. Bergen, Custodial Supervisor

RE: FIRE IN WORK AREA (LAUNDRY DEPT.) THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1947.

Sir:

A FIRE WAS DISCOVERED AND EXTINGUISHED, IN THE LAUNDRY.
Lt. Jones saw evidence of smoke at	11:20 P.M.
Lt. Jones located the Fire, at	11:25 P.M.
The Alarm was 'phoned in to the Armory at	11:30 P.M.
The Alarm Signals were sounded at	11:31 P.M.
Fire Truck arrived at	11:38 P.M.
Extinguishers & Hose Cart in use at	11:40 P.M.
Fire Complete Extinguished at	11:50 P.M.
RECALL was sounded at	12:10 A.M.

Names of Employees who participated in extinguishing Fire:

Warden J. A. Johnston Assoc. Warden E.J. Miller Lieutenant Bergen Lieutenant Boatman Lieutenant Faulk Lieutenant Jones Lieutenant Johnson Lieutenant Morrison Lieutenant Rychner Mr. Black Mr. H.R. Brown Mr. Burch Mr. Burdett Mr. Bristow Mr. Clark Mr. Congestri Mr. Dolby Mr. Elliott Mr. W. Hansen Mr. Henry Mr. Holman Mr. Kelley

Mr. Levinson Mr. McPherson Mr. McKean Mr. Martin Mr. Manderville Mr. Nelson Mr. M.S. Orr Mr. Oldham Mr. Pascal Mr. Peire Mr. Phillips Mr. Prindle Mr. Roberts, J. Mr. Roberts, F. Mr. Santos Mr. Shannon Mr. Steere Mr. Shield Mr. Sprague Mr. Wallar Mr. Washington

AT POWER HOUSE Mr. Burdett Mr. R. Davis Mr. Mahan Mr. Ross AT THE LAUNCH Mr. Rebholtz Mr. Mowery Mr. R.W. Orr

Respectfully submitted

P.R. Bergen, CUSTODIAL SUPERVISOR