FIRE AT INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER.




Initials PBS/V/MGT/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FIRE OFFICIALS IN CHICAGO BELIEVE AN ARSONIST STARTED A FIRE WHICH SWEPT THROUGH PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

MORE THAN 350 FIREMEN - A QUARTER OF CHICAGO'S FIREFIGHTING SERVICE - FOUGHT THE BLAZE.

THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DONOVAN HALL, A LARGE EXHIBITION AREA. THE BLAZE WAS CONTAINED IN THE SECTION OF THE BUILDING.

THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER IS A PART OF CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN HISTORY. IT WAS THERE IN 1952 THAT DWIGHT EISENHOWER RECEIVED HIS PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND WHERE ADLAI STEVENSON WAS CHOSEN AS HIS OPPONENT BY THE DEMOCRATS.

DONOVAN HALL WAS BUILT IN 1956. WHEN NOT BEING USED FOR EXHIBITIONS IT BECOMES A STORAGE AREA.

FIRE OFFICIALS FOUND SEVERAL PETROL TINS INSIDE THE ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING, AND BELIEVE THE PETROL WAS USED TO START THE BLAZE.

THE FIRE CAUSED DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT 75-THOUSAND DOLLARS. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE FIRE.