Great Fires of Raleigh

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1 Great Fires of Raleigh Presented by the Raleigh Fire Museum Last updated April 17, 2017 Conflagrations... 2 June 11, December 15, Major Fires s to 1900s... 5 Comparing Fires by Number of Lines s to 1950s... 5 Largest Fires by Number of Lines... 6 Comparing Fires by Alarm Levels s to 2010s... 6 Largest Fires by Alarm Level... 8 Largest Fires by Square Footage 1915 to Tompkins Hall - March 25, Martin Street November 6, Yarborough House - July 3, City Auditorium - October 24, Bellas-Hess Clothing Store - December 28, Edenton Street Methodist Church - July 28, Cameron Village - December 2, Peebles Hotel - June 24, Mangel Building - July 7, IGA Grocery - December 20, Pine Knoll Townes - February 22, The Metropolitan - March 16,

2 Conflagrations Five conflagrations occurred between 1816 and 1851: Destroyed 51 buildings in first two blocks of Fayetteville Street Destroyed 30 buildings, starting on the east side of Fayetteville Street Destroyed several buildings on Fayetteville Street Destroyed several buildings on east side of Fayetteville Street Destroyed 17 buildings on Fayetteville, Hargett, and Wilmington streets. June 11, 1816 Fire started around midnight. Dozens of citizens formed a bucket brigade. The city didn t have a fire engine or firefighters. Within two hours, 51 buildings were destroyed in the first two blocks of Fayetteville Street. The spreading fire was contained by blasting a building in its path. The State House in Union Square was saved, by men who climbed its roof and wet it down. As a result, the first fire engine was ordered for the city, and work on a city water system was hastened. The water system was completed in 1818, but abandoned within a year or two. The fire engine was delivered in 1819, and the first volunteer fire company was formed. 2

3 December 15, 1851 Fire started about 12:30 a.m. First flames in a sleeping apartment at a boot and shoe store. Nearby public water pump wasn t in good gear and the building was soon wrapt in flames. Citizens helped the arriving fire company members. Public and private wells were the sole water source. Buckets were used, as the city s two fire engines were either partially or entirely out of service. After two and a half hours, the conflagration was controlled. Seventeen buildings were destroyed on Fayetteville, Hargett, Wilmington streets. Most of their contents were saved, however. Losses estimated between $20,000 and $30,000. Insurance coverage between $10,000 and $15,000. Remaining wooden buildings on the block were ordered removed, by new city ordnance enacted the day after the fire. Comprehensive improvements to city s fire protection capabilities resulted, including: o Better water supply, e.g. the first fire cisterns o Two new fire engines o First fire station building o First paid fire chief o Reorganized volunteer fire companies. 3

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5 Major Fires s to 1900s State House at Union Square Methodist Church Raleigh & Gaston Railroad engine house Exchange Hotel City Market, two other buildings St. Augustine s Normal School buildings Raleigh & Gaston Railroad roundhouse Caraleigh Phosphate and Fertilizer Warehouse Fleming s Warehouse, two homes, stable Watauga Building at A&M College Infirmary at St. Mary s College St. Paul s A.M.E. Church. Comparing Fires by Number of Lines s to 1950s From the 1920s to the 1950s, records of fires included the number of hand hose lines: Date 12/17/31 Time 7:25 p.m. Box 261 Address 321 S. Blount St. Location Sanders Motor Co. Stories 3 Building brick garage Lines 9 Hose 3,800 feet Ladders 250 feet Engine 7.3 hours Loss $19,000 5

6 Largest Fires by Number of Lines 15 lines Insane Asylum - Dix Hill Yarborough Hotel block Fayetteville 9 lines Commercial Printing Company S. Salisbury Sanders Motor Company S. Blount Ammon s Clothing Store Fayetteville K&W Motor Company E. Davie 8 lines Almo Theatre Fayetteville Store W. Hargett Efird s Department Store Fayetteville Quinn Furniture E. Martin Bellas-Hess Clothing Store S. Wilmington Graphic Press International S. Wilmington A&P grocery store Hillsboro Note: This list excludes fires earlier than the 1920s, where records are not available. There may also be fires missing from this list, due to research or record errors. Comparing Fires by Alarm Levels s to 2010s References to number of alarms begin appearing in newspaper accounts in the early 1970s. An alarm is a set of resources that responds to a fire, such as engines, ladder trucks, and chief officers. 1st alarm 2nd alarm 3rd alarm 4th alarm 5th alarm Additional alarms are requested in numeric order, as more resources are needed. 6

7 Comparison Chart Alarm Level High Rise (7+ stories) 1 st 2 engines 1 ladder 1 rescue 1 BC 2 engines 1 ladder 1 rescue 1 BC 4 engines 1 ladder 1 rescue 1 BC 4 engines 2 ladders 1 rescue 2 BCs 5 engines 2 ladders 1 rescue* 2 BCs 2 nd 2 engines 1 ladder 1 rescue 1 BC 2 engines 1 ladder 1 rescue 1 BC 3 engines 1 ladder 1 rescue 1 BC 3 engines 2 ladders 1 BC 5 engines 2 ladders 1 BC + AC, mobile air 3 rd 2 engines 1 ladder 2 engines 1 ladder 3 engines 1 ladder 1 rescue 1 BC 3 engines 5 engines 2 ladders 4 th 2 engines 2 engines 1 ladder 5 th 2 engines 2 engines 1 ladder 3 engines 1 ladder 1 bat chief 3 engines 1 ladder 3 engines 5 engines 2 ladders 3 engines 5 engines Totals w/ five alarms 10 engines 3 ladders 2 rescues 2 BCs 10 engines 5 ladders 2 rescues 2 BCs 16 engines 5 ladders 3 rescues 3 BCs 16 engines 4 ladders 1 rescue 3 BCs 25 engines 8 ladders 1 rescue 3 BCs Plus on-call ACs DC on-call ACs mobile air DC on-call ACs mobile air DC on-call ACs deputy FM investigator mobile air DC on-call ACs deputy FM investigator mobile air * Squad (rescue pumper) is dispatched if rescue isn t available. BC = Battalion Chief DC = Division Chief AC = Assistant Chief FM = Fire Marshal 7

8 Largest Fires by Alarm Level 6 alarms 4 alarms Pine Knoll Townes 5 alarms Metropolitan Apartments Peebles Hotel 3 alarms Wake County Courthouse Shelton s Used Furniture Mangel Building Armadale Lane - Houses Dellcain Court - House Hammel - Warehouse River Run - Apts Fargo - House Bonneville - Apts Trillium - Apts Rose - House Banks Hill - Apts Kings Court - Apts E. Martin - Greenshields Pub Diggs - Commercial Penmarc - Warehouse Salem - North Hills Terrace Apts Friendly - Univ. Towers Wycliff - Meredith Village Apts Creekside - Auto Dealer Falls of Neuse - Quail Corners Shopping Center Twickenham - Village of Pickwick Apts Crown Court - Crown Court Apts S. Saunders - Caraleigh Furniture Warehouse Bashford - Bashford Place Apts Daniels - Bryan Bldg Beryl - Commercial Avent Ferry - Gorman Crossings Apts Kirkland - Commercial N. Person - IGA Grocery S. Bloodworth - Institute for Cosmetology Bldg Loft Ln - Apts W. Cabarrus - Clancy & Theys Wake Forest - Montecito Apts Crab Orchard - Apts Edwards Mill - Apts Kings - Apts Fairview - Hayes Barton Cleaners Fairview - Piggly Wiggly Raleigh - Apts W. Lane - Howard Bldg S. McDowell - Hunt General Tire S. McDowell - News & Observer Glenwood - Pine State Creamery W. Martin - Andrew Johnson Hotel Annex North - Holiday Inn North restaurant E. Davie - Lucille Hunter School W. Martin - Warren's Restaurant Notes: As cited on the previous page, the number of units (and personnel) at a fire in the 1970s is significantly smaller than those at a fire in the 2010s. Thus, alarm levels are not necessarily equal in resources, when compared across decades. At some fires, additional units are requested outside of a full alarm assignment. Those special called companies can add up to an alarm level equivalent. Fires with equivalent extra alarms are not included in this list. 8

9 Largest Fires by Square Footage 1915 to 2017 Mangel Building, ,940 sq. ft. Yarborough Hotel, ,500 sq. ft. Martin Street, 1915 ~47,720 sq. ft Pine Knoll Townes, 2007 ~45,600 sq. ft 1 Metropolitan, ,959 sq. ft. 2 1 Only destroyed or heavily damaged buildings. 2 Excludes exposures. Square footage can also be compared, for some of the city s largest structure fires. Four are listed above. Other square footage totals for other historic fires in the city's past include: ~18,000 - Quinn Furniture (43) ~19,600 - Coca-Cola Plant (48) ~23,400 - City Auditorium (30) * ~24,000 - K&W Motor Company (52) ~33,000 - Pine State Creamery (76) * ~43,000 - State Asylum (26) *Very rough estimate of square footage. 9

10 Tompkins Hall March 25, 1914 Textile building at North Carolina Agriculture & Mechanical College. Three stories, built Reported 2:45 a.m. Corner section of the third floor is burning. Entire study body soon arrives, running to the campus hose stations. Poor water pressure from the school s hydrants prevents streams from reaching the third floor. By the time the Raleigh Fire Department arrives, the entire third floor is engulfed in flames, and the second floor has started burning. Controlled a little after 5:00 a.m. Extinguished by firefighters and helping students until about 7:00 a.m. Most of the west wall also collapses, narrowly missing students helping to fight the fire. Loss $80,000. North Carolina State University photo 10

11 Martin Street November 6, 1915 Saturday morning. Fire reported at 6:05 a.m. Started on third floor of printing company at W. Martin. Destroyed five building, damaged many others. Four firemen and one civilian injured. Hose streams sprayed from street, and roofs of nearby buildings. Uzzell building walls collapsed, further spreading fire. Most damage occurred within two hours. Approximately 45,720 square-feet among six main burned buildings. Over $300,000 loss. Second time the News and Observer was destroyed by fire in three years. Destroyed W. Martin Street E.M. Uzzell and Company, printers Destroyed W. Martin Street News and Observer Destroyed 122 W. Martin Street Wake Shoe Company Destroyed 124 W. Martin Street Crystal Theatre - Motion pictures Destroyed 219 1/3 S. McDowell Street Storage warehouse Heavy fire damage 126 W. Martin Street O'Quinn & Company; Baptist Book Store Some fire damage Martin and McDowell streets The Raleigh Apartments Minor fire damage W. Martin Street Other buildings Heavy water, smoke damage 112 W. Martin Street H. S. Storr Company Some water damage W. Martin Street Hotel Wright 11

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13 Yarborough House July 3, 1928 Hotel and stores. Renowned hotel that was famous throughout the southeast. 300 block of Fayetteville Street. Four stories, brick, built ,500 square-feet. Reported 1:20 p.m., Box 314. Fire starts in basement, at base of elevator shaft. Quickly spreads through entire structure. Entire fire department responds, with five engines and two ladders, plus engines from Durham and Smithfield. 7,200 feet of hose, 15 streams. 750,000 gallons. Loss over $200,000. Building demolished. North Carolina State Archives photo 13

14 North Carolina State Archives photo Courtesy University of North Carolina, North Carolina Collection photo 14

15 Courtesy University of North Carolina, North Carolina Collection photo 15

16 Courtesy University of North Carolina, North Carolina Collection photo 16

17 North Carolina State Archives photo 17

18 North Carolina State Archives photo 18

19 City Auditorium October 24, ,500-seat performing arts center, beside City Hall. Davie Street just east of Fayetteville Street. Three stories, brick, built Roughly 23,400 square feet. Reported 11:46 p.m., telephone. Fire starts as a dance is concluding. No injuries as all patrons evacuate safely. Controlled 1:00 a.m. 3,200 feet of hose, 7 streams. Entire fire department responds: 5 engines, 2 ladders Loss $84,600. Adjoining City Hall building is damaged, and many municipal papers are destroyed. Replaced with Memorial Auditorium in 1932, at different location. Raleigh City Museum photo 19

20 North Carolina State Archives photo 20

21 Bellas Hess Clothing Store December 28, 1943 Bellas-Hess clothing store. Building faces both South Wilmington and East Martin streets. Three stories, brick. ~11,700 square feet. Reported 11:19 p.m., Box 23. Clothing store reopened a week earlier, after restocked with $100,000 of merchandise. Flames also spread to adjoining food market and wholesale grocery. Citizens assist with fire hoses, a common practice through the 1940s. Controlled ~2:30 a.m. 6,050 feet of hose, 8 streams. Damage $250,000. News & Observer photo 21

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24 Edenton Street Methodist Church July 28, W. Edenton Street. Built Reported 7:05 p.m. Started after lightning strikes the 200-foot steeple. Resulting flames caused the steeple to collapse an hour later. Firefighters from Cary and Garner come to the scene, to assist. Controlled by 10:00 p.m. 4 engines, 2 ladders. Loss over $500,000. News & Observer photo 24

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26 News & Observer photo 26

27 Cameron Village December 2, 1964 Bryan Building at Cameron Village Shopping Center. Daniels Street. Two-story, masonry/frame, built Reported at 5:25 a.m., as verbal alarm to nearby fire station. Starts in kitchen of Hofbrau Restaurant. Damages one-third of block-long building. Extinguished with help of foam machine, brought by salesman who is visiting Raleigh. Controlled about 7:30 a.m. 6 engines, 2 ladders, 1 rescue. Loss $634,699. News & Observer photo 27

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29 News & Observer photo 29

30 Peebles Hotel June 24, E. Hargett Street. Three stories, brick, built ~12,000 square feet. Reported 5:12 p.m., box 216. Fire started in third-floor bathroom. Bulk of damage confined to third floor. Fire also spread to two-story addition in rear. Controlled 7:30 p.m. 5 engines, 3 ladders, 1 rescue. ~35 firefighters. Five alarms. Loss $110,220. News & Observer photo 30

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32 Mangel Building July 7, Fayetteville Street Mall. Three stories, built ,940-square feet. Reported as smoke investigation about 8:50 a.m. Light smoke conditions found inside building housing restaurant, flea market, and ten smaller businesses. Heavier smoke, increased heat, and heavy fire soon presented. Crews tried to fight fire inside, but building conditions weakened. Aerial streams were added on the outside of the building. Walls on two sides of building collapsed about 11:00 a.m. Controlled about noon. Over 100 regular, off-duty, and volunteer firefighters, plus 21 recruits. 31+ firefighters treated for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. No injuries due to wall collapse. Damage over $400,000. Gary Knight photo 32

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37 News & Observer photos 37

38 IGA Grocery December 20, N. Person Street. One-story grocery store. 18,000 square-feet. Built ~1966. Reported 9:36 p.m. Smoke showing from rear of store on arrival. Fire found in ceiling, and volume of fire grows and moves to front of store. Crews withdrawn from building about 12:10 a.m. Aerial streams finish the suppression, while hose lines cool the apparatus. Three firefighters injured and treated on scene for smoke inhalation. 6 engines, 3 ladders, 2 rescues, plus relief companies. 45 firefighters. Three alarms. Jeff Harkey photo 38

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40 News & Observer photo 40

41 Pine Knoll Townes February 22, New townhomes off 3500 block of Capital Boulevard. Two-story buildings, four units each. Average 5,700 square-feet each. Reported 3:03 p.m. as brush fire. Dispatched fire companies come from farther away, as nearest units are at another working fire. Heavy smoke, multiple buildings burning on arrival. Hand lines, deck guns, and aerial streams used. 150 city firefighters including off-duty personnel and 29 recruits. Plus county firefighters. 15 engines, 6 ladders, 2 rescues, plus others. County firefighters help protect nearby buildings from flying embers. Six alarms. Controlled about 6:00 p.m. 27 individual units destroyed, 11 units damaged. ~62,700 total square-feet destroyed or heavily damaged. 72 people displaced. Damage over $4 million. Resulted in city fire code change. Lee Wilson photo 41

42 Mike Legeros and Lee Wilson photos 42

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45 Lee Wilson photo News & Observer photo 45

46 The Metropolitan March 16, 2017 Apartments under construction at Jones and Harrington. Five stories, 274,959 square-feet. Unfinished, no walls, no doors, no sprinklers. Dispatched 10:03 p.m. Heavily involved on arrival, rapidly spreading. Nearby buildings (exposures) threatened by flames, heat, and flying embers. Portable monitors and aerial streams on three sides. Ten hydrants supplied pumpers and ladder trucks. Controlled at 1:10 p.m. 130 firefighters including off-duty personnel and ~20 recruits. Plus firefighters from 15 neighboring departments covering city stations. 24 engines, 7 ladders, 1 rescue, plus other units. Five alarms people displaced. Ten buildings damaged. Four people with minor injuries. James Wilamor photo 46

47 Eric Debrah photo Rob Tiller photo 47

48 Mike Legeros photo 48

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50 Four buildings were the primary exposures, shown above. 50

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52 Damaged buildings included: B1 314 W. Jones Fire building, destroyed. B2 201 W. Harrington Structural damage after tower crane on roof. B3 414 W. Jones Heavy exterior damage. Minor interior fire damage. Some interior water damage. B4 323 W. Jones Heavy exterior damage. Minor interior fire damage. Heavy interior water damage. B5 308 W. Jones Heavy fire damage to upper floors, rooms and contents B6 300 W. Jones Fire damage on roof, and burned landscaping. B7 215 N. Dawson Fire damage to interior, fire damage to roof, burned landscaping. B8 301 W. Jones Fire damage to roof. Heavy water, smoke damage inside. B9 228 W. Edenton Fire damage to roof, landscaping burned. 52

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