ARDSLEY-ON-THE-PUTNAM, NY: DEC. 6, 1914 – An explosion in a rear apartment room inside a three-story frame house on Ashford Avenue ignited a blaze that was quickly spread by strong winds. The flames jumped the street, setting fire to other buildings, including Town Hall, a hotel, the post office, a pharmacy and two, two-story frame buildings. Fireman John Siebert from the Resolute Fire Company was injured when Town Hall collapsed and was rescued by another fireman. Mutual aid was received from Dobbs Ferry, Hastings, Tarrytown, White Plains and Yonkers. One fireman was thrown from a responding White Plains engine and was seriously injured. In all, four persons were killed by the fire or explosion and 10 buildings were destroyed.
NEW YORK CITY: DEC. 6, 1914 – Flames broke out in the Central Park Zoo at about 10:30 P.M. Firemen responded as a watchman held the flames with a standpipe hose. Flames spread to the rear wall of the hippo tank as the watchman began his attack. Arriving firemen were pulling hoses toward the flames when one ventured too close to a cage and a puma leaped at him. The bars stopped the animal’s pounce and the fireman remained unharmed. This action and the smoke brought most of the animals to a fevered pitch. Under the glare of lions and tigers, the firemen extinguished the remaining fire.
NORMANDIE, NJ: DEC. 6, 1914 – As the entire Jersey shore was being swept by gale-force winds and battering seas, a fire broke out in the Normandie Hotel during the night. The fire started in the hotel’s annex and was consuming bowling alleys, a dance hall and the second-floor storage area. The only firemen to reach the scene were those of the Seabright Fire Department, as all other roads to the blaze had been washed out. The department stopped the flames from spreading to the main section of the hotel, although several outbuildings were destroyed.
WEST ORANGE, NJ: DEC. 9, 1914 – At 5:15 P.M., a fire broke out in Building 41, the Film Inspection Department within the huge complex of buildings that composed Thomas Edison’s laboratories and factories. The largest research and development operation in the world, the Edison complex was protected by two separate on-site fire departments. The fire, fed by nitrate films, spread to six other buildings within the first hour. A little over an hour later, flames had spread to 13 buildings. By 8:55 P.M., help had arrived from the Montclair and South Orange fire departments. As the fire reached stored chemicals, flames shot over 100 feet into the sky. Mina Edison led a team of firemen into her husband’s office to save several important experimental apparatus, his personal notes and paintings. One employee apparently reentered one of the fire buildings with an extinguisher to help others escape and was killed by the flames. After the fire, Edison vowed, “Although I am over 67 years old, I’ll start over again tomorrow!”
POTTSVILLE, PA: DEC. 17, 1914 – An early-morning fire swept through the holiday-decorated business section of town. Faced with severe water problems, firemen battled ineffectively as 20 stores, the Pennsylvania National Bank and the Academy of Music were destroyed by flames. Power had to be shut off as fears of falling wires made matters even worse. The loss was estimated at $1 million.
NEW HAVEN, CT: DEC. 25, 1914 – A fire that broke out in a tenement building sent scores of tenants fleeing into the night. One young woman, trapped at a third-floor window and crying for help, waited as firemen brought a ladder towards her. Lieutenant Kelly raced to the top of the ladder as the woman passed out and fell from the window. Her falling body struck the officer, who tried his best to catch her. He was just able to hang on, but she fell to her death.
CAPRON, IL: DEC. 26, 1914 – A defective chimney and overheated stove started a fire in a drug store that threatened to spread through an entire block of buildings. Poplar Grove firemen aided the Capron Fire Department and the blaze was quickly brought under control.
CHELSEA, MA: DEC. 26, 1914 – A lumber yard fire swept through a 100-foot brick building, business offices, stables and lumber piles of the Pope & Cottle company. Two steam-powered cranes were also destroyed. The fire became so severe that assistance was requested from the Boston and Everett fire departments. One fireman was seriously injured when a lumber pile toppled over on him.
