April 4, 1903: CHICAGO - Flames tore through a seven-story building belonging to an undertakers' supply company. Several severe explosions caused the fire to spread to an eyeglass case company and jewelry concern also housed in the West Monroe Street structure. Fire jumped into the adjoining seven-story building that housed the Leonard Seed Company. Several firemen narrowly escaped injury when an explosion blew down a brick wall.
April 4, 1903: STATEN ISLAND NY - Three fires on the island's North Shore, believed to be the work of an arsonist, kept local volunteers busy overnight. The first fire occurred in a wood-frame private dwelling at about 1:30 A.M. As this fire was being fought another alarm was transmitted for a blaze in a three-story commercial building that was quickly extinguished. The third fire started in a barbershop and spread quickly to the adjoining furniture store. The majority of volunteer companies on the island responded to this fire.
April 4, 1903: SALISBURY, CT - An incendiary fire was discovered in a barber shop where a window was found open and the cash drawer empty. With no village fire department flames spread quickly. Help from Lakeview and Millerton, NY (seven miles away), was requested. Arriving fire companies struggled to stretch hoses as the flames spread to seven buildings. Exhausted firemen had the blaze under control by daybreak.
April 4, 1903: FRANKLIN, NC - A family of nine was sound asleep as fire broke out on the upper floor of their wood-frame home, trapping four sleeping children. The sound of the roof collapsing woke the parents and three other children asleep on the ground floor. The heavy fire and collapse made rescue impossible as the frantic parents carried the other children to safety.
April 9, 1903: NEW YORK CITY - A noontime fire broke out in the United Cigar Store in the famous triangular Flatiron Building at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street. The store was located in the 20-foot extension at the very point of the building known as the "cow catcher." The cigar company's elaborate Easter display literally vanished in a cloud of smoke and flame. Firemen brought the fire under control in a matter of minutes, but could not save five rabbits that were part of the Easter display.
April 14, 1903: ROME, NY - The Washington, one of the finest theaters in central New York, was destroyed by an early-morning blaze. A five-story wall collapsed at the height of the blaze, injuring a score of spectators.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
City of Bradford, PA, Fire Department
The City of Bradford, PA, Fire Department was officially formed on April 3, 1903. Nine volunteer fire departments had served the city for the previous 26 years. Fire Chief J. Flick and 25 firefighters worked 30 days straight before a day off. A ladder wagon, two hose wagons, a steamer and a chief's buggy - all horse drawn - were the original apparatus of the department, which became fully motorized by 1921. Today, the department operates out of two stations with 21 personnel on three shifts under the command of Fire Chief William McCormack. Apparatus consists of a chief's car, a 1,500-gpm pumper, a 1,250-gpm pumper, a 450-gpm mini-pumper, an 85-foot aerial, two ambulances and two paramedic units.
—Jay K. Bradish
Time Capsule
APRIL 2, 1903: SPECTACULAR RESCUES AT LOWER EAST SIDE TENEMENT FIRE
One woman was killed and six people were badly injured by a fire that raced through a five-story tenement building on Rivington Street in lower Manhattan. Nearly 150 people were asleep inside the building when flames burst through the windows of a dry goods shop on the ground floor, trapping those above.
As the firemen raced through the streets toward the flaming structure one young man took decisive action. Hurrying to the adjoining building he pushed a wooden board across the narrow airshaft between the structures and coaxed those trapped by the dense smoke and flames to crawl across to safety.
Others in the building climbed out onto the fire escapes or stumbled through the smoke onto the roof and climbed to the adjoining roof. Firemen entered the burning building and began searching for those overcome as hoselines were dragged into position. For more than a hour, firemen battled the stubborn flames. Three alarms were transmitted before the fire was declared under control.
Paul Hashagen, a Firehouse® contributing editor, recently retired as an FDNY firefighter assigned to Rescue Company 1 in Manhattan. He is also an ex-chief of the Freeport, NY, Fire Department. Hashagen is the author of FDNY 1865-2000: Millennium Book, a history of the New York City Fire Department, and other fire service history books.
