Fire Buffs promote the general welfare of the fire and rescue service and protect its heritage and history. Famous Fire Buffs through the years include New York Fire Surgeon Harry Archer, Boston Pops Conductor Arthur Fiedler, New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and - legend has it - President George Washington.


Thursday, November 10, 2016

LIMA FIREMEN KILLED - 1929

The Lima News - Jan. 7,1929

2 FIREMEN KILLED FIGHTING COURTHOUSE FIRE
MEN BURIED UNDER DEBRIS AS BLAZING ROOF CRASHED THRU; RECORDER OFFICE CLERK HURT
Valuable Records Destroyed When Floors of Building Fall; Others Saved by Volunteers; Outside Help Responds
Two Lima firemen were killed and the Allen County courthouse damaged to the extent of more than $100,000 in a fire that started at 10 a. m. Monday and appeared to be of little consequence until part of the roof collapsed, carrying two men to death. At 1:15 p.m. it was announced the fire was under control.
The dead:
John Wolfe, 45, captain of No. 5 department.
John Fisher, 29, hoseman at No. 1 station.
The injured:
Hod Murray, Bluffton. Severe bruises about legs and body. Condition not serious.
Wolfe and Fisher were working under the dome of the courthouse when the roof collapsed, carrying them to the floor below and burying them under tons of debris. Four other firemen, including Chief Mack and Frank Kinzer had been working on the same floor until a few moments before the crash. Two firemen left on other duty and Chief Mack departed to make a round of inspection. Kizer just reached the door as the roof fell.
Murray was injured when he feared being overcome by smoke and slid down a rope from the third floor of the recorder's office. He landed so hard that he suffered injuries requiring treatment at City hospital where it was said his condition is not serious.
When the fire was first discovered it w as not regarded as serious and it was not until a half hour after the first alarm that the flames took on a serious aspect. Chief Mack turned in a second alarm as a precautionary measure. The fire started on the third floor in the room of the court of appeals. Its origin has not been determined.
Firemen John Wolfe and John Fisher, who lost their lives, both supported families. Wolfe was married and had children. Fisher was the support of his mother and other relatives. It is customary that communities show their appreciation of the heroic services of such men when they die in line of duty. The Lima News feels that such appreciation should be shown in this connection and believes a fund should be raised. To start it, The News subscribes $50. Subscriptions will be received by The News and divided equally between the widow and mother of the two dead men. Fuller details will be printed Tuesday.
Mrs. Wolfe, wife of one of the men who was carried to death with the collapse of the roof, learned of the tragedy at her house and hurried to the fire where she pleaded with the firemen to do something to bring out her husband. She was hysterical from grief.
As Chief Mach was making his definite statement that two of his firemen, John Wolfe and John Fisher, had lost their lives in the fire, the faithful old courthouse clock which has given the times to Lima for many, many years, its face shrouded in smoke from the burning ruins of the county's capitol, boomed out the hour of twelve, as tho sounding the requiem for the brave firemen who had given their lives.
The fire was discovered by Lewis F. Bitters and Don Slechter, who were passing the courthouse and discovered smoke issuing from the top floor. They went to the office of the surveyor and the fire department was called.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

BEST FRIENDS



Photo: Springfield Fire Division

Loyal Dalmatian ready to roll aboard Truck 1 at Fire Headquarters in Springfield, Ohio, circa 1950s. "In the days of horse-drawn fire engines, dogs would guard the horses, who could easily become uncomfortable at the scene of a fire," according to Wikipedia. "Dalmatians were a popular breed for this job, due to their natural affinity to horses and history of being used as carriage dogs."


Photo: New Carlisle Sun

On July 25, 2008, firefighters resuscitated a cat rescued from a house fire in New Carlisle, Ohio, according to the New Carlisle Sun.


Springfield firefighter and canine, 2002


Photo: Springfield News-Sun

On Dec. 5, 2007, firefighters rescued a cat from a fire that started at the Burt Street Coal Co. and spread to nearby homes, the Springfield News-Sun reported. The flames were fueled by winds of up to 35 m.p.h. ``The Norfolk Southern Railroad company stopped running trains near the fires to allow fire crews access to additional hydrants on the far side of tracks,'' according to the newspaper. There were no injuries.

Saturday, August 20, 2016

BEFORE 1880


Springfield, Ohio

  • Maddox Fisher Mill fire - Dec. 5, 1834
  • Linn and Murry fire (N.E. Corner Main and Limestone) - Feb. 21, 1840. Flames consumed entire business block from Maddox Fisher's block on Main Street to alley west of Limestone Street. Pioneer newspaper office destroyed. Fire originated in livery stable. [Beers' 1881 History of Clark County, Sketches of Springfield, 1852]
  • Muzzie and Frankenberg Mill fire (Mill Run and Buck Creek) - Feb. 2, 1857
  • Firefighter John Dawson died in line of duty - Feb. 24, 1857. Killed by falling portico at house fire. [East High Street] [Roberds]
  • Barnett Flour Mill fire (Buck Creek and N. Limestone) - Feb. 2, 1863
  • Rat Row fire (S.E. Market St) - 1868
  • Ferrell Ludley Rodgers fire (E. Side S. Limestone and Union) - 1873
  • Firefighter John  Powell  died in line of duty - June 25, 1873. Powell fell to his death while advancing hose line to belfry at First Lutheran Church fire (Wittenberg Ave. and High St.). [Roberds]

1880s

Springfield, Ohio
  • Fire Captain Oscar Keys (or Keyes) died in line of duty - June 28, 1886. Was recovering from injuries sustained at fire at J Funk Keys Grocery (South side of Main Street at Fisher) on May 29, 1886. Fell down elevator shaft from third floor and suffered compound fracture of right leg below knee. Was captain of hook and ladder wagon. [Springfield Globe Republican]
  • Ohio Southern Roundhouse Fire - Jan. 8, 1887
  • Lumber yard fire (Main and Western) - Aug. 30, 1887. 3-story brick shop, 2-story frame dwelling also damaged. $10,000 damage, 4,000 ft hose used. [Roberds]
  • James Leffel Co. fire (Lagonda Ave.) - Oct. 11, 1887. Steamer, 2,800 ft hose used. [Roberds]

1890s

Lagonda House

Springfield, Ohio

  • Good and Reese Greenhouse fire (S. Limestone) - April 14, 1890
  • Charles Kelly Block on Main Street, spread to adjacent structures, including Derrickson's cigar store - Aug. 29, 1891 [San Francisco call]
  • Winter’s Act Litho fire (W. High St) - March 15, 1892
  • Arcade Hotel fire (Fountain and High) - Feb. 19, 1894. General alarm. Started in the basement ``Kindling Room,'' where coal and other fuels were stored. Flames ascended elevator shaft.  Hotel staff escaped from windows and over roof.   [Springfield Weekly Republic]
  • Fire destroyed New Carlisle city building, along with police and fire headquarters;  started at Charles Gardner's livery by "drunken people"; Staley Hotel also burned; Springfield sent mutual aid  - May 5, 1985. [San Francisco Call]
  • Lagonda House fire (Limestone and  Main streets) - Oct. 29, 1895. Box 12, general alarm. Broke out at midnight in vicinity of kitchen and laundry. Spread rapidly. Dayton Fire Dept. sent reinforcements by train. Hotel destroyed, roof collapsed. [Springfield Republic-Times, New Yorrk Times] 
  • Arcade Building fire (Fountain and High) - April 3, 1896
  • Firefighter Michael J Haley died in line of duty - Aug. 25, 1897. Suffered "sudden death"; no details. [Springfield Republic]

1900s





Scenes from fire at East Street Shops - 1902

Springfield, Ohio
  • Hamma School of Theology fire, Wittenberg College - Dec. 28, 1900. Firefighters rescued three students. [Washington Times]
  • E.W. Ross Shop fire - Jan. 14, 1901
  • Congregational Church fire - Jan. 22, 1901
  • East Street Shops fire (East St  and Kenton St) - Feb. 10, 1902. Box 63, general alarm. Largest fire in Springfield's history. Crews hampered by inadequate water pressure, antiquated fire apparatus. Firemen jumped from building as timber supports gave way.  Employees of the Indianapolis Switch and Frog Co. saved their factory by dynamiting walls. Blaze apparently started by chemicals.  [Roberds, New York Times,  Wittenberg History Journal]  
  • Black’s Opera House fire (Main and Fountain) - Feb. 19, 1903. Box 12, general alarm. Wall collapsed, killing three people. Several firefighters injured. YMCA building damaged.  [Roberds, Springfield Press Republic, Washington Post] 
  • Riots after slaying of police officer - March 6, 1904
  • Methodist Campground Hotel fire - Aug. 5, 1904
  • Methodist Campground fire ("All") - Nov. 17, 1904
  • Riots on Columbia Street & Levee. Levee burned. - March 7-8, 1906
  • Springfield police, with aid of fire department ladders, raided gambling saloon; scaled the walls of the five-story building and arrested 31 men who had taken refuge on roof - Feb. 10, 1907. [Sacramento Union]
  • Indianapolis Frog and Switch factory fire - April 23-23, 1907. Box 163, general alarm.  Possibly caused by natural gas leak. Building had survived East Street shops fire in 1902. Owned Charles Warren Fairbanks, vice president of United States in administration of Theodore Roosevelt. [Springfield Gazette, New York Times]
  • Freedom Oil & 4 houses burned (Fountain and Rockway) - Aug. 26, 1907
  • Barn & 5 Houses burned (Clifton and Vine) - Sept. 19, 1907
  • Cartmell Bldg. Fire (Main and Center) - Sept. 7, 1908
  • Wickham-Chapman Piano Co. fire (Sheridan Ave) - Sept. 26, 1908
  • C.C. Fried & Sons Co. fire (6 E. Main St) February 29, 1909

1910s


Springfield, Ohio

  • H.V. Bretney Tannery fire - Dec. 3, 1912 (Also listed as Dec. 12)
  • Great Dayton-Springfield Flood - March 12, 1913
  • Firefighter Dennis Sheehan died in line of duty - Nov. 20, 1913. Sheehan died after surgery at City Hospital from injury sustained at fire several weeks earlier. [Newspaper] Beggans Store fire - Jan. 22, 1914
  • Kearms & Lechschuety’s Plant fire - March 6, 1914
  • Robbins & Myers Co. fire (Lagonda Ave) - Dec. 12, 1914 - Started 4 p.m. $175,000 damage.
  • Superintendent of Fire Alarm Lawrence Bosley died in line of duty - Sept. 23, 1915. Died of injuries sustained in fall from fire alarm telegraph pole (Main Street west of Burnett Road). [Springfield Daily News]
  • Theo. Frank Stables fire (26 N. Fountain Ave) - Aug. 21, 1916
  • O.S. Kelly Co. fire  (Limestone and Warder) - Nov. 15, 1916. $ 175,000 damage .
  • Buffalo Springfield Road Roller Co. fire $500,000 damage. - April 11, 1917
  • Columbia Theater collapse - Sept. 28, 1917. Fire workers killed by falling roof during renovation. [springfieldhashistory.com]
  • Clark County Courthouse fire - March 12, 1918 - General alarm. $1 million damage. [Roberds, The Sun]
  • Influenza outbreak. 5,000 infected.
  • Kresge's five and ten cent store fire - Nov. 7, 1919. Firefighter Walter Reinheimer injured, died Jan. 3, 1920 [Springfield Daily News]

1920s


Jefferson School - 1928

Springfield , Ohio

  • Firefighter Walter Reinheimer died - Jan. 3, 1920. Suffered "stroke of apoplexy" while recovering from injuries sustained at Kresge's five and ten cent store fire on Nov. 7, 1919. [Springfield Daily News]
  • Kauffman Store McCoy fire - Jan. 22, 1921. Started @ 11 p.m.
  • Riots - March 12, 1921
  • Fink and Heiney Building fire - July 8, 1921. Flames spread to ammonia tank, which exploded while firefighters were dousing flames. Firefighters escaped injury. [Fire and Water Engineering, Aug. 21, 1921.] 
  • Country Club fire - June 14, 1922
  • Fairbanks Piano Plate Co. fire (Kenton St.) - Nov. 13, 1922
  • Armstrong Foundry fire (Dibert and R.R.) - 1924. Steamer used.
  • Springfield Abattoir Co. fire (Mill Run)  - May 12, 1925. 1st general alarm of day. Started at 3 p.m., $10,000 damage. [Roberds]
  • Brain Lumber Co. fire (East St.) $150,000 - May 12, 1925. 2nd general alarm of day. [Roberds]
  • Mass Foos Co. fire (Isabell between Main and Columbia) - Dec. 17, 1925. Steamer used.
  • Firefighter Charles Deam died - Jan., 14, 1926. Died at City Hospital after commercial truck collided with pumper (Main Street and Belmont Avenue); Firefighter John Miller injured. [Morning Sun]
    Spfld. Malleable Iron fire (Williams  and Main) - April 28, 1926
  • Bryant Bldg. Basket Co. Fires (14 W. Columbia) - Jan. 17, 1928. Steamers used.
  • Jefferson School fire (McCreight and Garfield) - Feb. 19, 1928
  •  Woodlawn Hall dormitory fire, Wittenberg College - May 15, 1928. Fire killed student Hilda Sipes, 20, of Shelby, Ohio. 3 others injured. [Associated Press, Springfield Daily News]
  • Central Brass Co. Fire (Jefferson St) - Feb. 13, 1929
  • Flood - Feb. 26, 1929

1930s


Springfield, Ohio

  • Avalon Park Dance Pavilion fire (Auburn Ave) - Dec. 9, 1930. Roof collapsed by the time the first engine arrived. Caretaker was heating mixture of water and coal oil, used as cleaning agent. [Springfield Daily News]    
  • Phito (cq) fire (Tibbetts & Pleasant) - April 24, 1931
  • Peter Boggan Co fire (34 E. Main St) - Jan. 10, 1932
  • Firefighter Roy Kelley died in line of duty - March 27, 1932. Illness. [Newspaper]
  • Cheney Mfg Co fire - Jan. 17, 1934
  • William Baley Co fire (Warder St) - June 1935
  • Traction collision, 7 dead - Aug. 10, 1935
  • Blizzard - Dec. 25, 1935
  • Blizzard - Jan. 22, 1936
  • Interurban crash on C&L.E. near city - April 28, 1936
  • Firefighter Augustus Brown died in line of duty - May 11, 1936. Illness. [Springfield Daily News.]
  • Twister destroys steeples of Broadus Church - February 1937
  • Earthquake. 9:47 a.m. 30 seconds. - March 7, 1937
  • Tuttle Brothers Hardware fire (Monroe St) - Nov. 17, 1937
  • Springfield Hardware fire - June 1, 1938
  • Hoenings Store fire, Robbins Bldg.- April 10, 1939
  • Clark County Lumber Co. fire (W. Main St) - May 20, 1939
  • Elks Club fire - Aug. 13, 1939
  • Trappers Corner fire (Main & Fountain) - Nov. 6, 1939

1940s

Photo: Springfield Fire Rescue Facebook
 

Springfield, Ohio

  • Carmedy Lab fire (625 W. Main) - Jan. 8, 1940
  • Stratton Grain Co. Fire (211 Mt. Vernom) - March 25, 1940
  • Norman Friedman Warehouse fire (Penn & Section) - May 6, 1940
  • Oliver Farm Equipment Co fire (270 Monroe) - Dec. 9, 1940
  • Union National Mill fire (Warder & Power) - Jan. 12, 1942
  • Allen Tool & Mfg fire (R-723 S. Lowery) - July 17, 1942
  • Crowell Collier plant explosion and fire (202 W. High) - Jan. 16, 1943. Worker killed. [Associated Press] 
  • Garmen Dress Shop fire (25 S. Limestone) - May 24, 1943
  • Rhodes Paper Box Co fire (66 St. Johns Pl) - May 4, 1944
  • Cappel House Furnishings fire (126 E. High) - May 23, 1945
  • The Park Bar fire (142 W. Main St) - Feb. 4, 1946
  • Diehl Hardware Co.fire (66-68 W. Main) - Oct. 14, 1946
  • McCall Coach Co fire (107 Bechtle) - May 19, 1947
  • Spfld. Coffin & Casket Co fire (310 S. Spring) - Sept. 28, 1947
  • Ridgely Trimmer Co fire (1300 Kenton) - Nov. 11, 1947
  • Fire Captain Hugh Garrity died in line of duty - Jan. 7, 1948. Garrity, 69, overcome by smoke. (903 Mound St.) [Springfield Daily News]
  • Paul Straley Home fire (1617 E. High) - Jan. 25, 1948
  • Conrad Motors fire (130 E. Columbia St) - Feb. 5, 1948
  • Citizen Dairy fire (Penn & Section) - Aug. 2, 1948
  • International Steel Wool fire (1018 Kenton) - Sept. 18, 1948
  • Firefighter Albert Kime died in line of duty - May 22, 1949. Killed when train collided with Truck 1 (Fountain Avenue). [Springfield Daily News]

1950s


King Building -1956

Springfield, Ohio
  • Davidson Storage Garage fire (311 W. Main) - Nov. 7, 1950
  • Robbins & Meyers Plant explosion (Sherman Ave) - Feb. 10, 1951
  • Bundy Inc Co Fire (301 Greenmont) - Dec. 8, 1951
  • Evelyns Laundry fire (R-222 E. Main) - June 24, 1952
  • Koehler Hardware Co fire (1731 E. Main) - June 26, 1952
  • Old Zimmerman Bldg. fire (Limestone & Main) - March 10, 1953
  • Gasoline fire in sewers, Limestone and Main streets - March 24, 1953
  • Moose Club fire (32 W. Washington) - Nov. 8, 1953
  • Western School fire (Main & Yellow Springs St) - Jan. 4, 1954
  • Ripley Auto Center fire (100 W. North) - Jan. 19, 1954
  • Hynes Dress Shop fire (11 E. High) - Nov. 13, 1954 
  • House fire (5701 Lower Valley Pike, Clark County); 6 dead - Dec. 19, 1955; kerosene heater probable cause. [Springfield Daily News]
  • Western Tool Mfg fire (1620 E. Pleasant) - Feb. 19, 1956
  • King Bldg fire (21 S. Fountain) - Sept. 15, 1956
  • Borden Co fire (125 N. Fountain) - Feb. 20, 1958
  • Potts Auto Body. Arson. - 1959

1960s


1964 Mack

Springfield, Ohio

  • Miami Pattern Shop fire (1302 S. Yellow Springs) - March 9, 1960
  • Mercycrest fire (100 W. McCrieght) - Aug. 10, 1961
  • Blair Mfg. Co fire (1620 E. Pleasant) - June 19, 1962 
  • Tremont City Firefighter Willard Dale Ritenour died in line of duty - Nov. 4, 1963. Apparently electrocuted while fighting grass fire in Clark County.
  • Specter Junk Yard fire (Main and Jackson) - 1964
  • Haucke Hardware fire (333 W. Main) - Aug. 11 1964
  • Western Tool Co fire (1620 E. Pleasant) - Oct. 3, 1964
  • Springfield Laundry fire (141 N. Murry) - April 27, 1966
  • Howard Sobers Trucking Co fire (Lagonda & Belmont) - 1968
  • Landmark Mill fire (442 N. Limestone) - Sept. 17, 1968

1970s & BEYOND



Crowell Collier - 1999

Springfield, Ohio
  • Penn Central Freight House fire (300 S. Limestone) - Aug. 25, 1970
  • D.T.I. Freight House fire (300 S. Limestone) - Oct. 9, 1970
  • Helkensen Paper Box fire (714 Rubsam) - April 9, 1971
  • Midwest Rug Cleaners fire (R-230 Chestnut) - June 18, 1971
  • Ronez Homes fire (Belmont & Home Rd) - Aug. 7, 1971
  • B&M Fiberglass fire (350 S. Fountain) - Aug. 9, 1971. Several firefighters jumped from roof to escape flames, fueled by resins and solvents. [Roberds] 
  • Yannucci’s Restaurant fire (1725 W. Main St) - March 7, 1972
  • Springfield Furniture fire (502 W. Euclid) - Aug. 28, 1972
  • Credit Life fire (204 S. Lowery) - Sept. 2, 1972
  • Kar Gard muffler shop fire (2100 S. Limestone) - Oct. 21, 1972. 3 alarms. Roof collapsed. Firefighters had narrow escape. [Roberds]
  • Ebners Junk Yard fire (North & Water) - 1973
  • Xenia tornado - April 3, 1974. Tornado killed 32 people.
  • Ohio Edison generating plant - 1976
  • Tower Hall fire, Wittenberg University - Feb. 1, 1977; 3 alarms with fire on 6th floor; 4 students, 4 firefighters injured; 2 students rescued by Truck 7's aerial ladder. [Wittenberg press release, Springfield Daily News]
  • Locomotive derailment at Skelgas Co. - April 4, 1978
  • Group home fire, multiple fatalities - 1978

    1980s and 1990s
  • Ohio Masonic Home - Jan. 10, 1982
  • Kelsey-Hayes warehouse fire, Aug. 27,1984
  • Crash of twin engine Piper Navaho aircraft (1907 Kenton St.) - Jan. 3, 1989; pilot Mark Garrett Annest died; responding fire companies included Engine 6. [Family seeking information, contact Fire Journal editor.]
  • Coventry Village fire (2354 North Limestone St.) - 1994
  • I-70 chemical incident - Aug. 10,1995
  • Crowell-Collier fire - May 10, 1999. General alarm.

    21st CENTURY
  • Firefighter Brian Fleming died in line of duty - July 17, 2005. Illness. [Springfield News-Sun]
  • R.D. Holder Oil Co. fire (Folk Ream Road, Clark County) - April 19, 2012. [Dayton Daily News]
  • Carter Jewelers Co. fire (Fountain Avenue and Main Street) - Feb. 10, 2013
  • McMurray's Irish Pub fire (122 East College Ave.) - June 7, 2013 
  • Unusual Incident -  Jan. 13, 2014. Rescue 1/Hazmat 1 assisted police at scene of "chemical suicide" near Springfield's municipal stadium. Note in vehicle warned of presence of hydrogen sulfide.
  • Tri-State Pallet fire (Monroe and Gallagher streets) - Jan. 6, 2015