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Post by district5 on Jul 7, 2002 1:42:34 GMT -5
One of the tasks that is going to face the History Book Committee is deciding which fires deserve photo coverage (from 1896 to 2002) in the book.
Which of the cities major blazes do you think should have a photo and why?
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Post by Gregg on Jul 7, 2002 2:12:01 GMT -5
BASF Explosion/Fire (Dana & Montgomery) and the Big Four Building Fire Downtown.
Because they were Major 5 Alarm Fires of current day.
I believe that the Big Four Building also had a major fire in previous years as well.
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Post by Gregg on Jul 7, 2002 13:24:49 GMT -5
Big Four Bldg. at 3rd & John
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Post by Gregg on Jul 7, 2002 13:30:43 GMT -5
What about the 5 Alarm (unofficial 7 alarm.......I think) on 4/15/93 on William Howard Taft Rd.? Does anyone think that this fire should make the final cut?
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Post by Gregg on Jul 7, 2002 17:36:08 GMT -5
A couple of others that I believe are worth noting are:
7/5/44 3rd & Central at Thieman Brothers Company - 5 Alarm (my opinion is that this is a must)
possibly the 5 Alarm on 7/19/81 at 503 Clark at the St. Luke Baptist Church
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Post by Box_2565 on Jul 9, 2002 13:23:03 GMT -5
The 5 alarm at 3rd & Elm in August of 1975 was probably the last really huge downtown fire that has occurred in Cincinnati. I would imagine that there are still firefighters on the department that fought that one.
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Post by PO on Jul 9, 2002 19:29:39 GMT -5
I vote for the Baldwin Piano fire as number one. This had to be the first fire on TV when CH 9 rolled their camera out the door for live action black and white coverage.
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Post by Box_2565 on Jul 10, 2002 23:38:49 GMT -5
All of the fires mentioned so far are worthy of consideration.
PO is certainly right about Baldwin and Thieman Bros. ranks in my top 3. I've seen very few pictures of these fires however.
If anyone has any photos of these biggies, please drop someone at CFDHistory a line!
By the way, wasn't The Beverly Hillbillies on win Channel 9 started broadcasting Baldwin?
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Post by code42 on Jul 22, 2002 18:46:43 GMT -5
The Baldwin Piano Co. fire has to be #1 in my book. It is my understandinmg from talking to some of the old timers that the Baldwin fire was the largest response of equipment in the history of the CFD and that the response can't be duplicated because of the number of companies eliminated since that fire took place. Maybe someone can verify that information.
I think the BASF fire was huge too. One that won't soon be forgotten.
What about the Standard Oil (?) fire that occurred during the 37(?) flood? Is that the one that burned the old CROSLEY plant?
I think some of the others; Thieman Bros., Bureau of Unemployment Comp, Chamber of Commerce Bldg., and what about the old round house fire, was that big enough? It does occur to me though that some of the fires of the past that were listed as three alarms, etc., actually were probablay bigger that some of the 5 alarms that have occured in the past 20 years because of the same thing I mentioned before, elimination of companies. When you look at the two piece companies that were disbanded some of the older responses can trake on an entirely different look!
Were "Snow Filtration" and the " monsanto Chemical " fire worthy of mentioneing or further consideration?
I hope someone can shed more light on some of these for me!
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Post by George Bredestege on Jul 23, 2002 14:19:56 GMT -5
I would think that the Shoe District Fire in 1913 was probably far larger than the Baldwin Fire. It burned for like 13 days and consumed several dozen buildings. Since the CFD had just about peaked in strength, there were probably more firefighters on the scene of that one than any other. Balwin was all but over in about 4 hours and only burned two buldings. Both buildings were in the process of being demolished anyway. Just my thoughts...
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Post by Box_2565 on Aug 27, 2002 17:56:09 GMT -5
There is a fairly recent photo in the Fire Photo section of the site that shows the first 5 alarm fire. I think that this should be included simply because it was the first.
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Post by Box_2565 on Dec 29, 2002 6:02:09 GMT -5
If the Alexander keeps burning a chapter may need to be devoted to that building! A 5 alarm a 4 alarm, and who knows how many workers and other jobs must have occurred there in the past!
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Post by whistleblower on Dec 30, 2002 10:29:55 GMT -5
While assigned to E-3, I remember seeing an old "extra alarm" critique from the Baldwin fire. I counted the # of engine companies that were dispatched & if memory is correct, I think they numbered at least 25. This report might be at the 3's house yet. When I saw it, it was in the office on the bottom shelf of a book case. It might have been moved into the storeroom by now. There were other "extra alarm" critiques from infamous fires in the past also.
Also regarding the "Shoe District" fire, which if I remember correctly, was at 9th & Sycamore, was known as "the biggest fire" in Cincinnati history. That was until Chief Steidel declared in 1993 that the Alexander Apartment fire was the "biggest" fire in Cincinnati history!
My great uncle, Fred J. Brown, was a patrolman with the CPD in 1913. I recall him telling me that he was walking his beat at 9th & Sycamore. When he walked across a grate in the sidewalk he could feel heat coming out of it. He looked down & could see into the basement of the building which was an inferno. He "pulled the hook" for the biggest fire in Cincinnati history......until 1993 anyhow!
Uncle Fred also drove the City's 1st motorized vehicle, the "Flying Thomas" or "Thomas Flyer" as it was officially called. According to Uncle Fred, it was operated by the Police Dept. out of the garage in the courtyard of City Hall. It was an all-open-air vehicle that was sent to all big emergencies. I just found a picture of him sitting behind the wheel. Kind of like the 1st Sq. 52. Uncle Fred said they picked him to drive it because he had experience operating (not driving) a streetcar. I remember him telling me that he actually ran over several people & killed one during the time he was driver. I believe the year was around 1915. He went on to become the Mayor's & City Manager's chauffer/bodyguard & retired in 1945 as a Detective Sergeant.
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Post by whistleblower on Dec 30, 2002 14:39:44 GMT -5
As an afterthought, I remember the Baldwin fire. As I recall it was a windy & quite balmy evening for March. I was almost 14 & my Dad took me & my brothers to watch. We parked up off Dorchester & walked down the hill to Reading Rd. There was an engine in suction at the hydrant there. Of course the expressway wasn't there yet & I remember feeling the heat big time, even from that distance.
In my opinion, there has not been a bigger fire since Baldwin. I'm basing this on size of the building(s) & volume of fire, not time it took to completely extinguish.
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Post by Deetes on Nov 15, 2003 19:59:05 GMT -5
I too remember the Baldwin fire. I am the daughter of a deceased fire from the 17's. That night my mom & I stayed up all night listening to the news. Mom taught me how to sew that night, trying to keep ourselves busy.
Someone said it was only four hours to extinguish, seemed like an eternity to us also.
That fire deserves to be in the book.
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