Rekindles 2/15

NEW YORK CITY: FEB. 2, 1915 – A large pile of snow saved a mechanic from serious injury and possible death. The 21-year-old-man was working under an automobile at an East 33rd Street garage when his electric light sparked, igniting gasoline near the vehicle’s tank. Within seconds, the car was surrounded by flames, which quickly spread to the mechanic oil- and gas-soaked coveralls. The man dashed out to the street and dove head-first into the huge snow pile. The man was saved, but the fire soon engulfed the garage and smoke caused the evacuation of a nearby school and courtroom.

COLON, PANAMA: FEB. 4, 1915 – Fourteen buildings were destroyed as fire swept through the Bocas Grande Section of Colon. For a time, the fire threatened the entire city. No lives were lost, but damage estimates were very high.

NEWARK, NJ: FEB. 5, 1915 – A fire and explosion wrecked a four-story brownstone at 26 Atlantic Ave. and badly damaged the two adjoining structures. A 16-year-old-girl was badly burned and several family members and servants were left in shock. Smoke was seen coming from the dumbwaiter, and just as two women were about to throw water on the fire, a backdraft occurred. The family escaped the blazing building and firemen struggled to stop its spread.

COLINGSWORTH, NJ: FEB. 6, 1915 – Seven firemen were injured as they battled a huge fire in the Enterprise Wall Paper Co. plant. Mutual aid companies were making a stand as a wall collapsed, injuring the men, one seriously.

JERSEY CITY, NJ: FEB. 16, 1915 – Fire was discovered in the hold of the liner Re d’Ilalia, moored at Pier B. Two alarms were transmitted as Deputy Chief Kern and his men commenced a three-hour battle. They were assisted by numerous fireboats and tugboats as the flaming contents of Hold No. 1 threatened to extend to stored ammunition and fuel oil. Two firemen fell overboard while operating a hoseline from a ladder. They were both quickly rescued.

TRENTON, NJ: FEB. 20, 1915 – A fire started in the basement of the Central House hotel and quickly filled the building with smoke. Fire Headquarters was directly across the street from the fire and firemen immediately saw a woman trapped at a third-floor window. They grabbed a life net from the truck and ran across the street. The 70-year-old woman jumped to safety as the remainder of the department rolled in and battled the flames.

DES MOINES, IOWA: Feb. 21, 1915 – The building and entire plant of the Register and Leader, a morning newspaper, and the Des Moines Tribune, an afternoon newspaper, were destroyed by an early-morning fire. The flames broke out around 7 A.M. and soon filled the huge printing plant. Despite the best efforts of the firemen, the inks and stored paper provided ample fuel for the flames.

EDENSBURG, PA: FEB. 24, 1915 – A carelessly discarded cigarette was believed to have started a fire in the pool room of the Mountain House hotel. Flames quickly spread to other nearby buildings. Mutual aid was sent from several departments, including Johnson City, as building after building ignited. Flames soon filled the courthouse, a bank, several hotels, a livery barn and a number of small office buildings.

PARIS, FRANCE: FEB. 27, 1915 – All the firemen and apparatus of central Paris rolled to a fire in the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret. Flames broke out in a pavilion in the rear section and immediately drew spectators. The clamor of the engines made many believe a Zeppelin raid was occurring (World War 1 was being battled not far from the city). Flames leaped to the auditorium, but the quick work of the firemen and the dropping of a steel fire curtain saved the stage.

PAUL HASHAGEN, a Firehouse^® contributing editor, is a retired FDNY firefighter who was assigned to Rescue 1 in Manhattan. He is also an ex-chief of the Freeport, NY, Fire Department. Hashagen is the author of FDNY: The Bravest, An Illustrated History 1865-2002, the official history of the New York City Fire Department, and other fire service books. 

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CAPTION:

NEW YORK CITY: FEB. 19, 1915 –Two traffic police officers noticed a fire at West Broadway and Warren Street in lower Manhattan and pulled a nearby alarm box, then raced into the five-story brick building to warn the occupants. A lighting company occupied the ground floor of the building and the Griffin shoe polish company filled the floors above. The police officers evacuated numerous people and returned to double check their efforts, but were cut off. Arriving firemen hurried an extension ladder to the officers and they climbed down safely. After a brief rest, they returned to duty. Photo from Paul Hashagen Collection