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Los Angeles Fire Department
Historical Archive

In Memory of 
Captain Michael J. Carter

Newspaper Articles

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____________________________LOS ANGELES, SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1950_________________________

F i r e  C a p t a i n  D i e s
F i g h t i n g  L. A.  B l a z e

Rescue Squad
Efforts Fail
____

    Collapsing of a heart attack while directing his men, Fire Captain Michael J. Carter, 55, died yesterday at a fire which swept a two-story office building and warehouse at 1107 North El Centro avenue.
    A rescue squad worked for 30 minutes over Captain Carter, commander of Engine Company 27, described by his superiors as "one of the finest officers in the department."
    He collapsed in the street as five companies brought the blaze under control after a half-hour fight.  Damage was estimated at $321,000.

    Captain Carter, who lived at 5532 Klump avenue, North Hollywood, would have completed 25 years in the department in November.  His body was taken to Hollywood Receiving Hospital.
    Assistant Fire Chief Pat H. Ferguson said the fire started in the offices of the Alco Research and Engineering Company, recording record manufactures.  The cause was not learned.
    It spread to other offices and the company's warehouse, destroying 250,000 completed records.  A commercial photography concern estimated its equipment loss at $50,000.
    Firemen said the building is owned by Actor Edward Everett Horton.
DEATH WINS---Anxiety is reflected on the faces of pulmotor squad men and doctor as they work over Fire Captain Michael J. Carter.   He collapsed and died of a heart attack as he directed firemen at blaze here yesterday.

--Los Angeles Examiner photo by George Snow.



FIRE CAPTAIN DIES
AS HE FIGHTS
HOLLYWOOD BLAZE

Recordings
and Films
Damaged

   Fire Capt. Michael J. Carter collapsed and died yesterday while directing a battle against a $315,000. blaze at 1103-1107 N. El Centro Ave., Hollywood.  He had been a member of the Fire department nearly 25 years.
    The Los Angeles fire captain who lived at 5532 Klump Ave., North Hollywood, sank to the sidewalk in front of the burning structure.  Hollywood Rescue Unit No. 27 was called and its members worked over him for some time without avail.  Capt. Carter had been appointed captain in 1932.  He headed Engine Company 27.
              Fire Starts in Office
    The blaze began in a rear office of the Alco Research & Engineering Co., at 1107 N. El Centro Ave., a recording concern, and spread through a grated but uncovered window into a record storage room.  It spread upward and virtually destroyed the commercial photographic studio of Green & Tillisch, 1103 N. El Centro Ave.
    The engineering company handles specialty recording popular with the jitterbug set, and had 250,000 finished recordings in storage, according to A. H. Levine, one of the operators of the company.  Levine said that the finished records were valued at a dollar each.  Among the recordings were some by Ronnie Kemper, who was on hand to rue the loss.
           Damage Estimated
    Mrs. Leland Green, of the commercial photographic studio, estimated the concern's loss at $50,000 in equipment, work done and stored negatives.
    Asst. Fire Chief Pat A. Fergeson estimated the damage to the building at $15,000.  The owner of the structure was reported to be Actor Edward Everett Horton.
    Raymond J. Cornfeld, an accountant with offices in the upper part of the burned building, also suffered property loss.  He and his secretary, Alice Johnson, were warned of the fire by William F. Tillisch, of the photograph concern and fled the building. 

DIES ON DUTY ---Fire Capt. Michael J. Carter, who succumbed while directing men.
COSTLY ---Fire apparatus at work as flames spread through recording concern and  photographic studio with loss estimated at #315,000.  Thousands of records were destroyed.

 
FATAL -- Spectators stand by as inhalator squad works over Fire Capt. Michael J. Carter, who collapsed and died    yesterday while directing battle against flames in record-making concern at 107 El Centro Ave, Hollywood.


FIREMAN DIES
IN L.A. BLAZE

L.A. Fire Captain Killed 
Battling Spectacular Blaze

A veteran Hollywood fire captain died today while battling an estimated $25,000 blaze near Santa Monica Blvd. and El Centro Ave.  Capt. Michael J. Carter, 54, grizzled smoke-eater of 25 years' service, collapsed while directing his company at the smoke-and-fume-filled blaze in the Specialty Record Co., 1107 N. El Centro.
    Members of Hollywood Engine Co. 27, Carter's unit, said he apparently was overcome while standing near a doorway from which clouds of smoke were billowing.
    The fire broke out shortly before noon. It disrupted some telephone service in the area for a time.
    About 500 persons flocked to watch the spectacular blaze.
    Carter was dead on arrival at Georgia Street Receiving Hospital.
    The fire apparently started in the record factory just north of Santa Monica Blvd.

Plant Destroyed

    Feeding on piles of wax and chemicals used in the plant, the blaze quickly destroyed the record works and the Lee Green Photographic Shop and Grant Motor service Co. adjoining.
    The record company loss was estimated unofficially at $15,000, at least.
    Carter joined the LAFD in 1925.  He lived at 5532 Klump Ave., North Hollywood.

 
 

 

FIRE CAPTAIN DIES
      FIGHTING BIG BLAZE

Flames turn record plant into inferno
    A fire captain died of a heart attack today while battling a $315,000 blaze at a Hollywood phonograph record manufacturing concern and commercial photography studio.
    Capt. Michael J. Carter, 55, of Engine Co. 27 was stricken while fighting the furiously burning records in a building at 1107 North El Centro avenue.
    He was given emergency treatment by the Fire department resuscitation squad and was removed to Hollywood Receiving hospital but died en route.
    The fire apparently originated in the second story of the building where Green and Tillisch commercial photographers had extensive studios.
    The fire ate through the flooring and swiftly engulfed the office of the Alco Research and Engineering Co., manufactures of records for Phil Moore's Discovery recordings and the Specialty Music Co.
    While proprietors A. H. Levine and L. A. Cottrell hustled company files out of the office the fire broke through to the adjoining shop where 250,000 highly inflammable shellac records were stored.
    With a tremendous explosive burst of flame the stacks of  records turned the shop into an inferno.
    Six workmen, who make the records from master discs, escaped without injury.
    Five fire companies answered the alarm and the fire was under control within 30 minutes.
    Levine estimated that loss of the records and damage to his equipment was $250,000, while Mrs. Leland Green said that $50,000 worth of damage was done to the photography studio and its contents.
    The building, which is owned by movie actor Edward Everett Horton, was damaged to the extent of $15,000, estimated Asst. Chief Pat H Ferguson.
    Capt. Carter lived at 5532 Klump avenue, North Hollywood.  He joined the department in 1925 and was appointed captain in 1932.  For many years he was head of Hollywood's Engine Co. 27.


Loss Figured
At $315,000 in
Hollywood Fire

    Damage was estimated at $315,000 today in a Hollywood factory- -and-office-building fire that cost the life of Fire Captain Michael J. Carter.
    Captain Carter was apparently seized with a heart attack as he directed five fire companies fighting the blaze at the Alco Research & Engineering Co., 1107 N. El Centro Ave., and died en route to Hollywood Receiving Hospital.
    Firemen said the flames originated in a rear office of the Alco Co., a recording concern, and spread through a grated but uncovered window into a record-storage room.  It spread upward and virtually destroyed the commercial photographic studio of Green & Tillisch, 1103 N. El Centro.
    The engineering company, which handles specialty recording, had 250,000 finished recordings in storage, according to A. H. Levine, one of the operators of the company.  Levine said the finished records were valued at a dollar each.
    Mrs. Leland Green, of the commercial photographic studio, estimated the concern's loss at $50,000 in equipment, work done and stored negatives.
    Asst. Fire Chief Pat Ferguson estimated the damage to the building at $15,000.  The owner of the structure was reported to be Winter Horton, brother of  Edward Everett Horton, actor.
    Raymond J. Cornfield, an accountant with offices in the upper part of the burned building, also suffered property loss.
   Captain Carter, who had been a member of the Fire Department nearly 25 years, suddenly sank to the sidewalk in front of the burning building, witnesses reported.  Hollywood Rescue Unit No. 27 was called, its members working over him for some time without avail. Captain Carter had been appointed a captain in 1932.  He headed Engine Co. 27.
    A native of Ireland, Captain Carter resided at 5532 Klump Ave., North Hollywood.  He is survived by his widow; two sons, Thomas Joseph Carter, 21, of San Fernando, and John Carter, 26, North Hollywood, and two daughters, Mrs. William Kearns, 25, North Hollywood, and Mrs. Richard Koenig, 23, Pacoima.
    Captain Carter's sons-in-law, William Kearns and Richard Koenig, are members of the Los Angeles Fire Department. 
FIREMAN DIES --Fire Capt. Michael J. Carter, who suffered a heart attack while directing firefighting operations at the $350,000 blaze which gutted a Hollywood office-factory (top photo), is placed in an ambulance by attendants (bottom photo).  Captain Carter died en route to the hospital.

Citizen-News photo

RECORD DEBRIS -- Some of the 250,000 records ruined by a fire at the Alco Research and Engineering Co., 1107 N. El Centro Ave., are shown smoldering above.  Fire Capt. Michael J. Carter, commanding the five companies which fought the $350,000 blaze, suffered a heart attack and died en route to the hospital.


 

Fire Captain
Dies As He
Fights Blaze

    Fire Capt. Michael J. Carter, 55, of 5532 Klump Ave., North Hollywood, is dead  today, victim of a heart attack suffered while directing the battle against a $315,000 blaze in Hollywood.
    A rescue squad worked frantically over the fallen captain for 30 minutes before he was pronounced dead.
    Capt. Carter, commander of Engine Co. 27 and described as one of the department's finest officers, would have completed his 25th year of service next November.
    The fire late yesterday swept through a two-story office building and warehouse at 1103-07 N. El Centro Ave.  The building was reported to be the property of Encino Actor Edward Everett Horton.
    Capt. Carter is survived by his wife, Mrs. Sue Carter; two daughters and two sons, and five brothers.
    Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the J. T. Oswald Chapel, Requiem mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Monday at St. Charles Church, and internment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.
    Capt. Carter was member of the Legion of Valor, and won the Distinguished Service Cross in World War I.

 


DEATH NOTICES
___

CARTER---Michael  J., age 55, of North Hollywood, beloved husband of Sue Carter, father of Mary M. Kearns of Highland Park, Theresa C. Koenig of Pacoima, Thomas J. of San Fernando and John of North Hollywood.  Captain of Los Angeles Fire Department, Engine Co. No. 27 of Hollywood.
    Rosary, Sunday 8  p. m., at the J. T. Oswald Mortuary, 5423 Tujunga ave., North Hollywood.  Requiem High Mass, Monday, 9  a. m.,  St. Charles Church, Interment, Holy Cross Cemetery.


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