Thinking of these great disasters reminds us how short modern history is. We are just two lifetimes removed from the Gold Rush. We usually do not remember the role that fire has played in creating our modern cities. Fires and earthquakes and floods and mudslides can overcome all our human ingenuity and productivity in an instant. It takes far less time to destroy a city than two lifetimes. Skip to content The last survivor of the San Francisco earthquake died earlier this month. December — First Great Fire.
May — Second Great Fire. September — Fourth Great Fire. Like this: Like Loading You have successfully subscribed to the newsletter. There was an error while trying to send your request. Please try again. Accept Terms. Theresa Hupp, Author will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. The Mormons. Later from Lake Superior Police Intelligence. Poetry [Untitled].
Six fires in the first two or three years of her history caused the people to make extraordinary efforts to protect themselves against their recurrence.
It was from this determination that the present efficient fire-fighting force sprang. Yet fires continue and will continue, as they did in those early days, and the price of eternal vigilance and preventive methods are the two chief auxiliaries at least of equal importance to force itself.
New and better buildings; more precautions taken concerning the use of fire; the widening of streets; the purchase of fire apparatus, and finally the impressment of all citizen to fight a blaze and the organization of fire companies were among the earlier steps taken. Later on cisterns were built at strategical points.
But the ever-increasing size of buildings seemed to outstrip efforts made against fires. The larger and higher the buildings went, the greater efficiency demanded in every branch of the fire-fighting service. Today standpipes carry the water to the very top of the highest structures in the city. To say nothing of sprinkler devices and the construction of reinforced concrete buildings supposed to be fireproof.
The first fire of any importance occurred in January, , when the Shades Hotel was destroyed. The inflammable material of which the town was built and winds made many thoughtful people realize that if a fire ever got started nothing could stop it.
It was not until December 24, , however, that this fear was realized. Scarcely were the ashes cold when preparations were made to erect new buildings on the old sites, and within a few weeks the place was covered as densely as before with houses of every kind.
Two months later action was taken for the general organization of a fire department. The following ordinance was passed by the Town Council of February 5, Six months later, on May 4, , the second great fire occurred. It was supposed to have been of incendiary origin. Several persons were arrested, but no formal trial took place.
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