Today in Fire History 6/22

On 6/22/1863 the town of Emmitsburg, Maryland was destroyed by fire. “Twenty-eight dwellings were destroyed, rendering homeless fifty-four families, numbering in the aggregate one hundred and eighty-nine persons…A large proportion has been accommodated at the Sisterhood”. The fire started on the west end of town burning to the east and changing direction and burning back towards the west on the opposite side of the street being stopped after it destroyed the hotel. Wet blankets were placed on the roofs of buildings to the west of the old hotel to help stop the fire. Emmitsburg is the location of the National Fire Academy; the fire was 9 days before the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg.

On 6/22/1960 an early afternoon fire killed eleven people in Henderson Department Store Liverpool, England that started in the suspended ceiling on the 3rd floor possibly from an electrical fault, and rapidly spread resulting in a partial internal collapse. Combustion products extended up the wooden escape stairs resulting in a flashover. The store's AC ventilation system was not operating properly, most of the fire-rated doors had been wedged open to allow ventilation. Over 1? million gallons of water were used to fight this fire from 65 hydrants and a relay established from the Fireboat William Gregson’ on the River Mersey. “The 1963 Offices, Shops, and Railway Premises Act was closely modeled on the 1961 Factories Act; it made it a requirement for a building described under the act to have sprinkler systems, provisions for fighting a fire, and adequate means of escape, as well as giving fire brigades the power to inspect for fire safety.”

On 6/22/1820 a Manhattan, New York firefighter died “while operating at a major fire, which had started in a turpentine distillery and spread to 36 houses. He was killed when he was caught in a building collapse.”

On 6/22/1872 two Chicago, Illinois firefighters died “while fighting a fire in a four-story, brick building on South Water Street. They were asphyxiated and suffered severe burns when a gas meter inside the building exploded. Members of the Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol were the first firefighters on the scene, four firefighters went into the building with fire extinguishers. The gas meter exploded shortly thereafter, killing two, and injuring three other firefighters.

On 6/22/1884 two Brooklyn, New York (FDNY) died while operating at a building fire. “The fire started when a hot brick from one of the ovens on the second floor of Herseman's Bakery dropped to the floor below. It landed in the stable, igniting some hay. The fire gained headway before it was noticed. Workers went into the stables to release the forty-four horses but were driven back by the flames. Thirty-three of the horses were released, and eleven were killed. Three firefighters were ordered to add another section of hose to the line operating in the rear of the bakery. The three men entered the alleyway between the fire building and the adjoining building with the extra hose. The four walls of the building swayed before the roof fell in, pushing the walls out and burying the helpless firefighters. One firefighter was found under six feet of bricks with his skull crushed. A second firefighter was found badly burned. The third firefighter was injured but escaped with only a broken leg when he was thrown into a doorway and through the door of the next building. The fire from the time it was discovered until the building collapsed was less than fifteen minutes.”

On 6/22/1904 an Albany, New York firefighter was killed while operating at a fire in a row of stables.

On 6/22/1915 two Philadelphia, Pennsylvania firefighters died “from injuries they sustained in a wall collapse at the Potter Oil Cloth Company.”

On 6/22/1924 a Chicago, Illinois firefighter died “while responding to a fire alarm at 8042 Escanaba Avenue. He was struck by lightning and electrocuted as he and several other firefighters passed through an alley between two buildings.”

On 6/22/1929 a Houston, Texas firefighter died after he was electrocuted. “His station had received a call for a house fire at 3552 Reeves Street, which was close to the firehouse. The firefighter was operating a hose line in the rear of this totally involved structure when an electrical line burned loose from the house and wrapped around his body. His fellow firefighter administered artificial respiration until an ambulance arrived and transported him to Methodist Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.”

On 6/22/1969 a Newark, New Jersey firefighter “after exiting the building fire on 6/20/1969 he was struck on the side of the head with a brick or bottle thrown by a youth. This resulted in a head contusion. He was treated and taken home. Two days later, on 6/22/1969, he died as the result of his head injury.”

On 6/22/1980 a Miami, Florida firefighter “led his four-man crew into a warehouse at 1300 NW 74th Street, which was strewn with broken furniture and debris, remnants of the May riots. He lost his search line and became disoriented in the thick smoke and had run out of air. The fire was ruled an arson, and his death ruled a murder.”

On 6/22/1997 a Brewster, New York firefighter died from injuries sustained at a residential structure fire after becoming trapped in the basement.

On 6/22/1937 a Jackson, Ohio mine explosion killed four. “They said they had been eating lunch in the mine and a carbide lamp on the cap of one of them fell into a powder keg.”

On 6/22/1907 lightning-ignited 25,000 barrels of oil at the Valvoline Oil Co in Butler, Pennsylvania. “Much of the oil is being saved by the use of pumps, transferring it to tanks at a safe distance from the fire.”

On 6/22/1901 fireworks exploded in a store on the ground floor of a 4-story frame tenement building that killed twelve people in Paterson, New Jersey

6/22/1893 fire killed seven in the Bunnell Building in Duluth, Minnesota; a five-story frame structure, with four stores, two saloons, and two newspaper plants on the first floor; was considered “a regular fire trap.”

On 6/22/1873 the Passaic, New Jersey conflagration started just before midnight in a livery stable a short distance north of the Erie Railway depot, the fire killed two men.

On 6/22/1908 the Port Chester, New York conflagration started. “Ten fires were burning in different parts of the village at one time. Sparks were carried half a mile by the wind.” “The fire started in some hay in a loft on the third floor of a building occupied by the Borden Condensed Milk Company at the corner of Westchester Avenue and Factory Place, and spread rapidly.”

On 6/22/1908 the Three Rivers, Quebec conflagration began. “Almost every building of consequence in that section of the city was destroyed, including the post office, the City Hall, every hotel worthy of the name with one exception, the fine building of the Hochelaga Bank and almost all of the leading stores. Over three hundred buildings were burned.”

On 6/22/1894 the Norborne, Missouri conflagration burned the business block, on Main Street, except for one store on the corner, which was destroyed by the fire that started in the grocery store at about 5:30 a.m.

On 6/22/1852 “the old canal storehouse, used for the storage of cotton waste, was destroyed by fire this morning in Providence, Rhodie Island.”

On 6/22/1851 a fire destroyed part of San Francisco, California.

On 6/22/1871 a Bangor, Maine jewelry & music store fire seriously injured two.

On 6/22/1611 English navigator Henry Hudson, his teenage son, and seven supporters were set adrift by mutineers in present-day Hudson Bay.

On 6/22/1775, Congress issues $2 million in bills of credit.

On 6/22/1812 Napoleon's Grand Army invaded Russia.

On 6/22/1944 FDR signed the G.I. Bill.

On 6/22/1945 Battle of Okinawa ends.

On 6/22/1981 Mount Rainier, Washington Glacier collapsed killing eleven.??