The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., October 3, 1924, page 1

$75,000 FIRE LOSS AT UNDERWOOD

     Underwood suffered a $75,000 loss by fire last Sunday morning as a result of a fire which broke out in the new warehouse and pre-cooling plant of the White Salmon fruit growers.  The loss is divided in damage to warehouse $30,000 and damage to fruit in excess of $40,000.  As a result of destruction of the engine room and ammonia plant, further damage may result to fruit in the warehouse which was not damaged by fire, as there are now no meaning means of pre-cooling fruit.  The adjoining tile warehouse, in which much fruit is stored and a frame warehouse, were damaged by chemicals and water.
     The loss of the big new building is very unfortunate, for it was one of the most modern type.  It is believed a short-circuit in the wiring is responsible for the fire.
     Most of the fruit lost and damaged was in the Perham Fruit pool of Yakima and was to a large extent covered by insurance.
     Shortly after the fire started an emergency call was phoned to Hood River, and the small truck was rushed across the Columbia on the ferry.  On arrival it proved to be of little use and it was decided here to send the big pumper to the aid of Underwood.  On arrival, our local fire brigade ran a feed line 900 feet down to the Columbia and were thus able to save the surrounding property.  Had it not been for the Hood River brigade, people of Underwood say the loss would have been much more serious than it was.
     It was rumored that the Mt. Adams D’Anjou Pear Co. had lost pears to the value of $25,000, but this is erroneous.  Frank Helm, while fighting the fire, was struck by a falling roof and suffered a broken shoulder.  The fire spread to brush on the heights, but this was under control before Sunday evening.