Today in Fire History 6/16

On 6/16/1875 a Boston, Massachusetts firefighter died at a fireworks factory fire. “An explosion of gunpowder occurred at Charles E. Masten’s fireworks factory on Kemble Street, Roxbury. Box 213, (Norfolk Avenue & Hamden Street) was sounded at 2:58 p.m. Five civilians were also killed and ten severely injured. Several of the dead were teenagers. The factory was a 2-story wood building about 20 feet by 40 feet and it was destroyed.”

On 6/16/1925 in Chicago, Illinois a firefighter died while trying to recover two construction workers from a confined space. “Five men were working in the caisson when the drill struck a gas pocket. Three men clambered to safety. Two dropped to the floor of the pit overcome by the gas.” “Firefighters responded to 714 West Jackson Boulevard after three workers in the chamber collapsed and lost consciousness due to leaking sewer gas. The firefighter descended into the caisson chamber wearing a breathing apparatus, and successfully revived two construction workers who he sent to the surface. He also recovered the body of one dead worker, but he collapsed from asphyxiation when his breathing apparatus ran out of oxygen before he could climb out of the caisson.”

On 6/16/1941 three Chicago, Illinois firefighters died while fighting a fire at the Chicago Mill and Lumber Company, a manufacturer of wooden boxes at 900 West Ogden Avenue. “The fire started in bales of paper located on the first floor of the two-story brick building. The shooting embers then ignited a fire on the second floor by sparking a mill dust explosion. With the rush from the blast, the flames spread quickly throughout the rest of the building and caused the roof to collapse. Three Chicago firefighters were trapped by the collapse in the burning rubble. A 5-11 alarm and subsequent special alarm calls had brought 45 pieces of fire apparatus and equipment to the scene on Ogden Avenue. Firefighters had just started hose operations when the roof collapsed, so the firefighter presence within the building was still somewhat limited. Unfortunately, the severity of the explosion prevented firefighters from rescuing their trapped colleagues, and the three trapped firefighters asphyxiated in the burning rubble. Five other firefighters were injured by the explosion.”

On 6/16/1955 a Richfield, Minnesota firefighter “died fighting a fire at 6437 5th Ave. The fire was one of two that night set by an arsonist, according to news articles from the time. During the fire, he collapsed after suffering from smoke inhalation in the low attic area of the home and was transported to Saint Mary's hospital, but died during transport in the ambulance.”

On 6/16/1986 a Chicago, Illinois firefighter “was fatally injured when he was struck by an air conditioner that fell out of a burning apartment building at 4753 N. Avers. He was stationed outside the building when the fire burned through a windowsill on the building's third-floor, leaving the air conditioner without any support.”

On 6/16/2006 a West Babylon, New York firefighter was electrocuted recovering equipment after a fire. The fire department responded to a structure fire in a restaurant on June 13, 2006. During the fire, a ventilation hole was cut into an awning. After the incident, a tarpaulin was placed over the hole by firefighters. On June 16, 2006, firefighters went to the restaurant to retrieve the tarp. A firefighter climbed a ground ladder to access the tarp; he was at the tip of the ladder when he made contact with an electrified sign on the awning and was electrocuted. He was rendered unconscious immediately and was hanging upside down from the ladder. The firefighter was brought down from the ladder, treated, and transported to a hospital. He did not survive. The sign was found to be improperly grounded.”

On 6/16/2015 a balcony collapsed killing six people and others were seriously injured at an apartment building near the University of California at Berkeley.

On 6/16/1911 the Mason City, Iowa High School was destroyed by a fire started by a lightning strike.

On 6/16/1909 downtown Brownwood, Texas was destroyed by fire.

On 6/16/1893 around 10:00 p.m., the dormitory of the Central Wesleyan College in Warrenton, Missouri was destroyed by fire. “At the time the fire was discovered fully 1,200 people were in the college hall in attendance at the commencement exercises. That panic did not ensue was due to the presence of mind of the presiding officer, who quietly had the doors locked, separating the hall from the burning portion and allowing the audience to make its exit calmly and safely. Several persons were injured by falling timbers while attempting to extinguish the blaze. The electric lights were shut off to prevent an accident, leaving the city in darkness.”

On 6/16/1891 the town of Casselman,?Ontario, thirty miles from Ottawa, on the Canada Atlantic Railway, was destroyed by fire. “Immense piles of lumber, containing millions of feet, and huge stacks of tanbark are reported to be burning. The large planing mills, sash, blind factory, sawmills, and a large number of stores and residences have been burned.”

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On 6/16/1898 American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

On 6/16/1979 Moslem Brotherhood killed 62 sheiks in Aleppo, Syria

On 6/16/1963 Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova aboard Vostok 6, became the first woman to travel in space

On 6/16/1961 Kennedy agrees to expand United States involvement by sending instructors to train troops in Vietnam

On 6/16/1933 U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was created

On 6/16/1918 during the First World War, the Battle of the Piave River began

On 6/16/1896 a tsunami-ravaged Japanese coast killing over 20,000

On 6/16/1884 the 1st roller coaster in America opened at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York. “Known as a switchback railway, it was the brainchild of LaMarcus Thompson, it traveled approximately six miles per hour and cost a nickel to ride.”

On 6/16/1858 Lincoln warned that America is becoming a "house divided"

On 6/16/1832 the Battle of Kellogg's Grove, Illinois is fought during the Black Hawk War