Today in Fire History 2/24
On 2/24/1857 a Springfield, Ohio firefighter was “killed from the crushing injuries he sustained while operating at a house fire when a portico fell on him.”
On 2/24/1862 a Boston, Massachusetts firefighter “suffocated from heavy smoke, during a four-alarm fire in the building at North & Commercial Street, District 1, Station 4, at the Eastern Railroad Depot on the waterfront.”
On 2/24/1892 a Baltimore, Maryland firefighter died “while working a fire on the fifth floor of a six-story brick building. Two members of Engine 15 took a fire extinguisher into the elevator, but they didn't know how to operate the elevator. They ended up on the fifth floor, trapped by the fire. One of them managed to escape by crawling out on a narrow ledge, but the other was found dead near a front window. The general-alarm fire went on to destroy the fifth and sixth floors of the building.”
On 2/24/1905 a Milwaukee, Wisconsin firefighter “was killed by a floor collapse at Interior Woodwork fire on Park Street.”
On 2/24/1908 a Tacoma, Washington firefighter “was killed when he fell five stories after tripping over the windowsill while trying to climb onto a ladder.”
On 2/24/1919 a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania firefighter “died from being asphyxiated after he had fallen through a skylight and into a vat, at Milnor and Bleigh Streets.”
On 2/24/1928 an Athens, Georgia firefighter “died from the injuries he sustained two days earlier after having fallen through an elevator shaft while fighting a fire. He was transported to a hospital where he later died.”
On 2/24/1930 a Chicago, Illinois firefighter “was overcome by gas poisoning while fighting a fire in a candy factory at 2522 West Chicago Avenue. Six other firefighters were also overcome by illuminating gas, but his injuries proved fatal as he died later that day.”
On 2/24/1945 a Portland, Maine firefighter “was killed instantly, when he was crushed beneath a brick wall, which fell out as the result of an explosion while fighting a three-alarm fire at the Stevens Avenue Armory, at 780 Stevens Avenue.”
On 2/24/1955 a Washington DC firefighter “died as a result of the severe smoke inhalation he sustained, while operating at an extremely stubborn and smoky five-alarm fire in the Union Hardware Store at #709 D Street N.W.”
On 2/25/1956 an Atlanta, Georgia firefighter died “while he was assisting his company in the extinguishment of a fire in a combination grocery store and beauty parlor, in a two-story brick structure at 737 West End Avenue. He collapsed from the effects of the gases of the combustion and died in the hospital.”
On 2/24/1959 two Montreal, Quebec, Canada firefighters were “killed in the blaze after the roof collapsed. The restaurant was on the top two floors, and the fire started in one of the first-floor units which housed a shoe store, a gown store, and a sewing shop. The fire of the American Spaghetti House began around 1:00 a.m.”
On 2/24/1966 a Toronto, Canada firefighter died in a “large office building at the corner of Richmond and York Streets fire. “Heavy smoke poured out windows on the 6th floor of a 12-story building, and dozens of people were trapped above the fire. By, 6:16 p.m. a third alarm had been transmitted. Two firefighters noticed the alarms were not sounding and they met two maintenance workers; the four entered an elevator and started up. For unknown reasons, the elevator went to the fire floor and stopped with no power. As they pried open the doors, they were met with a blast of hot heavy smoke. One firefighter left the elevator and went right and found an exit door, the maintenance workers had gone right and made it to an exit door that they knew about. However, one firefighter was caught by a backdraft and rendered unconscious. Members from Rescue 1 found him shortly after and removed him.”
On 2/24/1978 a Chicago, Illinois firefighter died during “a house fire at 3459 West 18th Street. As a member of Flying Squad 4, he entered the burning building after it was mistakenly reported that three children were trapped inside and became trapped inside the building. He jumped out a third-floor window to the sidewalk below to escape the flames and smoke. Suffering from multiple fractures and third-degree burns, he was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
On 2/24/1978 two Waverly, Tennessee firefighters died when “a 20,000-gallon propane tank car, which was one of 25 that derailed on February 22nd, exploded as experts were preparing to transfer the gas to tank trucks. More than 43 people were severely injured and 16 others, including the two firefighters, were killed in the blast. Over a dozen businesses that had been evacuated earlier, were leveled by the explosion. All of the fatalities were the result of severe thermal burns.”
On 2/24/1980 two Wyoming, Michigan firefighters “died while operating at a fire in a one-story brick restaurant, they were caught under a collapsing ceiling. Immediately after, the roof collapsed, burying them under tons of debris. Their bodies were found two hours later, each with second and third-degree burns and acute carbon monoxide poisoning.”
On 2/24/1989 two Orange County, Florida firefighters “died while battling a multiple alarm fire at the Sunshine Gift Shop on Palm Parkway in South Orange County. They were operating on the scene when they sustained fatal injuries due to the truss roof construction collapsing.”
On 2/24/1993 a White Plains, New York “firefighter was trapped on the 8th floor in an elevator. It is questionable whether the breathing apparatus had depleted air. The cause of death was asphyxiation from smoke inhalation.”
On 2/24/2011 a home daycare fire in Houston, Texas left three children dead and four injured started in the kitchen.
On 2/24/2010 a multi-family building fire on Pleasant Street Willimantic, Connecticut displaces eight and injured three just before 1:30 a.m.
On 2/24/1965 the Gai Sejour home for the aged fire killed sixteen in St. Gilles, Belgium.
On 2/24/1928 a coal mine explosion killed twenty in Jenny Lind, Arkansas.
On 2/24/1916 the Aetna Powder Company nitroglycerine explosion killed two in Emporium, Pennsylvania.
On 2/24/1890 the Vancouver, Washington Courthouse and Jail were destroyed by fire.
On 2/24/1830 just outside of Memphis, Tennessee a boiler explosion on the steamboat, Helen McGregor killed up to 60 persons.
On 2/24/1836 Texan Colonel William Travis sent a desperate plea for help for the besieged defenders of the Alamo, ending the message with the famous last words, "Victory or Death"…"The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison is to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken -- I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls -- I shall never surrender or retreat." Lt. Col. William Barret Travis, while besieged at the Alamo
On 2/24/1991 the Gulf War ground offensive began.
On 2/24/1968 the Tet offensive halted during the Vietnam War.