If there was a significant fire or emergency that occurred 100 years ago in your department, or your department's 100th anniversary is coming up, please drop us a line for possible inclusion in "Rekindles" in an upcoming issue.
Feb. 1, 1897: LIMA, NY Flames raced through the boys' dormitory of Genesee Wesleyan Seminary just after midnight. One hundred sleeping people were driven from their rooms in the four-story brick building. Many students and teachers became trapped at windows and were forced to jump. One student died from the injuries he received after jumping from the fourth floor.
Feb. 1, 1897: KALAMAZOO, MI Firemen battled a blaze that destroyed Kalamazoo High School. The loss was estimated at $40,000. Four firemen were injured during the fire, one critically.
Feb. 2, 1897: HARRISBURG, PA A fire that started in the offices of Lieutenant Governor Lyon swept through the ancient Capitol of Pennsylvania just after noon. The Senate and House were about to reconvene for the afternoon session; the president of the Senate was banging the gavel to call the body to order when smoke began to pour into the chamber. An investigation to its source brought the hastily formed senatorial bucket brigade to Lyon's office when flames burst through the door. A delayed alarm to the fire department added to the head start the blaze had in the old structure. Flames raced through the building into the House chamber with such quickness that many people had to jump from windows. Firemen were faced with flames raging through the roof, and a snow storm driven by high winds. Within 90 minutes, the domed 180-by-80-foot brick building was in ruins.
Feb. 5, 1897: NEWPORT, DE Burglars attempting to cover their crime set fire to Duff's Store and the fire soon extended to seven frame dwellings. The fire department was credited with heroic work in stopping the flames from consuming the rest of the town.
Feb. 11, 1897: OTTAWA Poor water pressure hampered firefighting in a top-floor office fire in the Parliament Building. Flames were quickly into the roof and cockloft and soon spread across the entire structure.
Feb. 11, 1897: This was a tough day for American firemen. Major fires were fought in Waltham, MA; Stonington, CT; New Hamburg, NY; Wilkes-Barre, PA; Chicago; Amsterdam, NY; Philadelphia; Plano, TX; and Cleveland.
Feb. 19, 1897: TOLEDO, OH Just after midnight, a fire was discovered in the Lake Shore Grain Elevator. The structure, filled with 125,000 bushels, was soon fully involved and spread to elevator B. This large elevator ignited and burned fiercely alongside its twin. Firemen struggled against a strong wind off the river and the flames ignited seven loaded rail cars before they could bring the fire under control.
Feb. 20, 1897: WILMINGTON, NC A late-night fire that broke out in a clothing store on Front Street spread rapidly to a hardware store and the adjacent vacant store. Flames were soon in a barber shop, a restaurant and the Sternberger Brothers grocery store. The fire turned the corner onto Grace Street consuming a newsstand, another grocery store, a dance hall and an office building. A man working in the office building moved his family to safety, then re-entered the burning structure and was killed.
Feb. 22, 1897: HANNIBAL, MO A fatal fire raged in a dry goods store, trapping many above in their apartments. Occupants on the second and third floors fled the smoke and flames. A man and his two young sons were unable to escape and were found later in the ruins.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION: The Enfield, CT, Fire District 1 Fire Department concluded its 100th anniversary celebration in December 1996 with a ceremonial "Torchlight Parade."
BICENTENNIAL: The citizens of Easton, PA, formed the Easton Humane Fire Company on Feb. 14, 1797. The company was equipped with a hand pumper and 80 feet of hose. Today, the city is protected by a fully paid fire department staffing three engines, a tower ladder and a rescue unit. A celebration, including a firefighters' parade, will take place July 12-13.
TIME CAPSULE
Feb. 7, 1904: "THE GREAT BALTIMORE FIRE"
Sunday, Feb. 7, 1904, was a cold, cloudy and windy day in Baltimore. At 10:48 A.M., an automatic alarm was received for The John Hurst Co. on German Street, a six-story brick building with an cast iron front.
A passerby had discarded a smoldering cigar butt through a sidewalk grating into a crate of cotton batting in a store basement. Firemen were stretching in hoselines when an explosion blew them back onto the sidewalk. As additional units were being called, another explosion blew the roof off. The building collapsed, demolishing one steamer and an aerial ladder.
The fire was extending quickly around the city. The cast iron fronts on many buildings were failing with frames and glass dropping from blasts of heat. The buildings contents were now open to radiant heat and flying embers. The blaze had spread to two square blocks, and the firemen were exhausted. The wind was pushing the flames from one building to the next and help was sent for to other cities. Chief Engineer George Horton was shocked and burned by a falling electrical wire and Assistant Chief August Emrich assumed command.
Outside help began to arrive. A total of 771 firemen on 33 steam fire engines, hose wagons and a ladder truck responded. Roland Park, Highlandtown and Westminster firemen traveled by road. Sparrows Point firemen used a trolley car, and those from Relay, St. Denis, Washington, Philadelphia, Annapolis, Wilmington, York, Chester, Harrisburg, Phoenixville, Altoona, Columbia, Atlantic City and New York City arrived by train.
By midnight, the wind changed direction and threatened the financial district and the Harbor Basin, but was stopped by noon the next day along the banks of Jones Falls. A total of 1,468 brick and 48 frame buildings were destroyed, and four lumber yards burned. Although many great risks were taken by firemen, no lives were lost. (FDNY Engineman Mark Kelly contracted pneumonia while fighting the fire and died within a week at home in New York).
Paul Hashagen
Compiled by Paul Hashagen
