2022

Howard Fire – Ventura County, California

The Howard Fire started at 1542 hours PDT on this day in 2022 on Rose Valley Road and Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca Trail just northeast of Ojai, California.

The fire started out between 16-20 acres burning in heavy brush.

Photo (L) Credit: VCFD PIO

It burned until October 27, 2022, when it was last updated at 1153 hours PDT.

Agencies who responded were the USFS (lead agency), VCFD PIO, and CAL FIRE.

At the time of the fire, four hikers had to be rescued from the area.

1981

8-Alarm Fire – Philadelphia, PA

On this date, the Box 581 Fire located on 2nd and Allegheny Avenue was dispatched at 1928 hours, to a commercial fire at the L.W. Foster Sportswear Company (vacant). About three minutes after the initial dispatch time for units to show up, Engine 25 was first due on the scene and 2nd alarm was initiated. After Battalion 6, Chief John Friel arrived, he struck a 3rd alarm about three minutes later then a fourth at 1937 hours.

The five-story building was well involved with fire throughout and starting to spread to exposure buildings, the Craftex Mills fabric warehouse, a sixth alarm was called at 1942 hours.

A commissioner arrived on the scene and struck a 7th alarm at 2004 hours and later for an 8th alarm at 2018 hours. The fire would later (2240) be called being under control.

Multiple homes and vehicles were damaged.

1871

The Great Chicago Fire – Illinois

On this day, the Great Chicago Fire broke out in the City’s West Side in the de Koven Street barn of Patrick and Catherine O’Leary though there is no known exact cause ruled what started the fire.

Photo Credits: National Association of State Fire Marshals

Once the fire started it raged out of control and quickly. With steady southwestern winds, the fire would send flames and blazing embers from block to block engulfing exposure homes.

Due to the poor residents in these areas, homes were instantly exploded. Only did rainfall, the lake in the area (fire break), and stretches of vacant (cleared lots) land on the North Side, did it finally cause the fire to be put out on the morning of October 10th.

The fire is known as one of the biggest ones in history, as it tells the story of how it killed 350 people, caused $200 Million in damage, and had 17,450 buildings destroyed in almost 3.5 square miles or about 2,112 acres burned.

Approximately, one-third of the City lay in ruins with nearly 100,000 people becoming homeless.

Challenges during that day were having a small fire department with poorly constructed wood buildings with highly flammable tar and drought conditions caused the conflagration.

Today, the Chicago Fire Department has its Training Center at this location. They have been recognized as the country’s Fire Agency and leading in Fire Standards.

Sources: Wikipedia, Chicago Fire Historical Museum. National Association of State Fire Marshals, CAL FIRE.

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