Today in Fire History 2/17
On 2/17/1957 the Katie Jane Nursing Home for the Aged fire killed seventy-two of the 155 residences in Warrenton, Missouri. The fire started in the first-floor annex, attached to the back of the home’s main building, in a linen closet in the two-and-a-half-story facility at approximately 2:40 p.m. “During the five minutes it took for a visitor to find a staff member and for the staffer to notify the fire department, 11 patients managed to escape. By the time firefighters arrived, five minutes later, the fire had grown out of control, and rescue efforts were futile. Many of the victims died in their beds or locked in their rooms. Within 30 minutes the fire had extended through the building. It was determined that several factors served as potential causes, including wood in the building that was more than 50 years old, coupled with thermostats often kept at 85–90 °F to keep residents comfortable during the frigid winter months. The facility had been inspected just one week earlier by a state official. However, the facility had been operating without a license, had inadequate fire escapes, and lacked a sprinkler system. In addition, there was no alarm system nor evacuation plan.”
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On 2/17/2003 the E2 nightclub stampede in Chicago, Illinois killed twenty-one and injured fifty people after security guards used pepper spray to break up a fight. The crowd panicked and rushed the exits; many believed it was a terrorist attack. The known exit was down steep stairs leading to a narrow inward opening door. The club's owners were convicted of criminal contempt and sentenced to 2 years in prison for failing to comply with codes.
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On 2/17/1888 a Louisville, Kentucky firefighter “died from injuries resulting from a cistern exploding.”
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On 2/17/1892 a Hartford, Connecticut firefighter “died from the injuries he sustained while operating at Box 31.”
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On 2/17/1899 more than “two hours after it was believed that the fire at Thirteenth and Market Streets was under control, three Philadelphia, Pennsylvania firefighters were killed by the fall of floors of the building, 1224 Market Street. Eight other firefighters were injured, but not dangerously. At five o'clock in the morning, it was found that Saint John's Roman Catholic Church was on fire, and despite the utmost efforts of the fire department it was damaged to the extent it was estimated, of $60,000. Several valuable paintings were saved. Another firefighter, who had suffered extreme exposure at the fire, contracted pneumonia and died March 2nd as a result of its effects.”
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On 2/17/1915 two Danville, Illinois firefighters “died while fighting a fire at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall on North Vermilion Street. The firefighters were killed when a wall collapsed while they were standing on a second-story fire escape directing a hose stream through a window. Four other firefighters were injured in the collapse. Five workers were injured in a second collapse on February 19 while cleaning up debris from the fire.”
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On 2/17/1919 a Brooklyn, New York (FDNY) firefighter “was killed when he fell into a hold of a burning freighter and was overcome by fumes. Many other firefighters were also overcome while battling this stubborn blaze.”
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On 2/17/1942 an Atlanta, Georgia firefighter “died as a result of the smoke and gases he inhaled while operating at a fire at the Bellinger’s Inn on Ponce De Leon Avenue on February 10th.”
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On 2/17/1943 a Toledo, Ohio firefighter became trapped in the attic of a residence at 1005 West Woodruff and burned to death.
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On 2/17/1984 a Cape Coral, Florida firefighter died while moving a handline while operating on a car that had caught fire after striking a pole, he collapsed to the street, unconscious.
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On 2/17/1997 a Lexington, Kentucky firefighter died while operating at a residential structure fire. “Upon arrival, the fire department reported heavy smoke showing from a residential structure. Initially, Engine 11 was ordered to pull two 1-?" handlines to the front of the structure; it soon because clear that the pump on E-11 was malfunctioning preventing the generation of adequate water pressure. Engine 6, the 2nd due engine, to pull two lines and prepare to make entry. Two firefighters pulled the attack lines, extinguished the fire around the front door, and made entry. Just after making entry both firefighters fell through the floor into the basement and became disoriented. Unknown to the crew of E-6, the fire had been set by an arsonist and multiple fires were burning in the basement which had weakened the floor. Within a few minutes, the firefighters were found to be missing and the hole was located in the floor. Numerous rescue attempts were made but only one firefighter was able to make it out alive. Post-incident investigations revealed that both firefighters had run out of air before being removed.
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On 2/17/2001 two Ashton, Illinois firefighters died while operating at a single-story residential fire; the fire was reported in the basement. “Upon their arrival, firefighters searched the basement for fire and found none. The search was continued on the first floor and again, nothing was found. Firefighters returned to the basement with a thermal-imaging camera and a hoseline. A small fire was discovered, and firefighters began extinguishing the fire. The basement ceiling was pulled, and a wave of heat and smoke descended on the five firefighters in the basement. The fire had been burning for some time in the concealed space between the basement ceiling and the first floor and fire now spread rapidly to the basement. Three firefighters were able to escape the basement immediately, but two firefighters were trapped. One of the trapped firefighters was in communication with the incident commander and relayed the fact that he was low on air and that his exit path had been cut off by fire progress. Mutual aid companies and EMS resources were called to the scene. Firefighters cut a hole in the first floor in an attempt to make access to the basement for rescue but the conditions in the hole prevented their entry. Both were pronounced dead shortly after they arrived at the hospital. The air supply in the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) worn by each firefighter was depleted. Both firefighters wore activated personal alert safety system (PASS) devices. The cause of the fire was an electrical short at the panel. The cause of death for both firefighters was listed as asphyxiation.
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On 2/17/1944 in Lake City, Michigan the three-story Missaukee Courthouse was destroyed by fire around noon.
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On 2/17/1898 many buildings were damaged from a fire in the downtown district in North Adams, Massachusetts shortly after 5:00 a.m. that “started not far from the stove in the rear part of the store” at 41 Eagle Street. ?
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On 2/17/1850 in Batavia, New York several buildings were destroyed after a fire in a two-story wooden hardware store on the north side of the Genesee (Main) Street extended about 11:30 a.m. during a strong westerly wind.
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On 2/17/1996 a commuter train collision between MARC commuter train and Amtrak's Capitol Limited passenger train left eleven dead and twenty-six injured around 5:30 p.m. near Silver Spring, Maryland
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On 2/17/1993 a passenger ferry, the Neptune, overturned near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. About 900 people drown when the 150-foot three-deck boat encountered bad weather; the vessel was dangerously overloaded with a maximum of 650 people, it carried no lifeboats or emergency gear.
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On 2/17/1801 after a tie vote in the Electoral College and 35 indecisive ballot votes in the House of Representatives, Vice President Thomas Jefferson was elected the third president of the United States over Aaron Burr.
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On 2/17/1906 the 1st "Trial of the Century" started when union leaders Bill Hayward, Charles Moyer, and George Pettibone of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) were accused of complicity in the murder of former Idaho governor Frank Steunenberg. Clarence Darrow, one of the foremost defenders of liberal causes, defended the case that drew national media and celebrity attention. Darrow made an impassioned 11-hour closing argument that mercilessly attacked the mine owners and the Pinkerton Detective Agency. The jury acquitted.
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On 2/17/1979 responding to the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia, China invades Vietnam.?