John Preston, who owns the structure and operates the pool room first smelled smoke about 10:45am. He opened the cellar door and smoke and flames poured out. Residents of the apartments were evacuated as the fire spread up the back of the building to the roof.

SIX CHILDREN ESCAPE
Besides Mr. Preston, other occupants who fled to safety included his wife and six children, Marion Murphy and Carl Whitacre.
The Frostburg Fire Department responded with its big aerial truck, a small heavy-duty pumper, two large pumpers and two equipment trucks. Firemen working from Main Street and also Mechanic Street in the rear of the building quickly contained the blaze. Some smoke got under the eaves of the building next door occupied by the J7J Store. The fire did not spread into that structure.

HEAVY SMOKE
Heavy smoke made firefighting difficult and early this afternoon there was still some coming from the building. Frostburg was backed up by Clarysville, Shaft and LaVale volunteer fire companies. During the fire, the aerial truck had Main Street blocked and traffic was re-routed over Water Street to College Avenue for eastbound cars. Westbound traffic went over Bowery Street to College Avenue and then to Broadway.