So devastating. It’s amazing how fast those older homes went up in flames. It’s funny, I too have clothes by my bed in case I ever need to run out. Lately. I’ve been thinking I should have my pocket book nearby — since it has my passport and credit cards!!
My uncle was a volunteer firefighter and rescue squad asst. chief. He had a squawk box in the house at all hours when I stayed with my cousin. He was a quiet man. He crossed the English Channel on D-Day and was shot in the knee on Omaha Beach. He gave back to his country by this service to his community. My cousin, his son, became a career fireman and eventually a fire chief. There's a lot of adrenalin shooting through your veins in these situations.
Thanks for sharing these stories. Growing up my parents trained us what do in the event of a fire. If you've got a home, don't take things for granted. Have a plan.
Naomi, I, too, have a winter fire story. It happened in Superior when I was young. I woke up to flashing lights in the middle of the night to find a neighboring apartment building on fire. Firefighters were quietly hard at work pulling residents out. I remember it as a strangely silent event, even though there must have been people calling and talking. A young woman ran around in the snow in her nightgown, crying, and I gave her my Navy peacoat that I got at Goodwill.
The next day, the burned-out building was a great, ghastly spectacle of ice. I heard it was an updated building with fire alarms and sprinklers. Two young women died in that fire. It was in the early '80s.
We used to say that winter house fires started in the chimneys because people were overstoking their stoves. I don't know if that's true these days.
Cheryl writes: Thanks for sending. I, of course knew about the fire in the store, I came across the newspaper article in mom and dad’s stuff after my mother died Jan 2022 and mailed it to a family member whose name doesn’t come to me now. She was appreciative for it. Thanks for reminding of the early prairie fire killing the farm hand. Fires are so prevalent this time of year and very frightening. I have seen first hand the remains of friend’s homes from fire. Our daughter lives in a cabin in the mts and we worry about fire there all the time. A fire reduces an entire cabin to rubble in fifteen minutes. A fire in a cabin can quickly spread to the entire area. Last year a cabin next to our property caught fire during the night. Cabins have burned to the ground when no on is home. We have look out alert on our landline and will be called at any time during day or night if a fire is in her area. The original cabin built on our property in 1930 burned to the ground. Our place on that site was built in 1960 and caught on fire four years later. And, was rebuilt. I cannot imagine the horror and devastation for those who escape when fire takes off in sub freezing weather. Losing everything.
I know the feeling about fire in cold. We had a 24x12 two story shop go up in flames at -25. The shop and all the Ak tools, etc. were gone in less than 15 minutes. Everything inside was lost. The fire did not spread to the house. Insurance payment included coverage of over 800 books. "Did a library burn down?" the adjuster asked. "No, just years and years of books collected by myself and husband as teachers. "
So devastating. It’s amazing how fast those older homes went up in flames. It’s funny, I too have clothes by my bed in case I ever need to run out. Lately. I’ve been thinking I should have my pocket book nearby — since it has my passport and credit cards!!
My uncle was a volunteer firefighter and rescue squad asst. chief. He had a squawk box in the house at all hours when I stayed with my cousin. He was a quiet man. He crossed the English Channel on D-Day and was shot in the knee on Omaha Beach. He gave back to his country by this service to his community. My cousin, his son, became a career fireman and eventually a fire chief. There's a lot of adrenalin shooting through your veins in these situations.
Thanks for sharing these stories. Growing up my parents trained us what do in the event of a fire. If you've got a home, don't take things for granted. Have a plan.
Interesting you found the newspaper clipping about the fire!
Diane responses:
Naomi, I, too, have a winter fire story. It happened in Superior when I was young. I woke up to flashing lights in the middle of the night to find a neighboring apartment building on fire. Firefighters were quietly hard at work pulling residents out. I remember it as a strangely silent event, even though there must have been people calling and talking. A young woman ran around in the snow in her nightgown, crying, and I gave her my Navy peacoat that I got at Goodwill.
The next day, the burned-out building was a great, ghastly spectacle of ice. I heard it was an updated building with fire alarms and sprinklers. Two young women died in that fire. It was in the early '80s.
We used to say that winter house fires started in the chimneys because people were overstoking their stoves. I don't know if that's true these days.
Thanks for your interesting article.
Diane
Cheryl writes: Thanks for sending. I, of course knew about the fire in the store, I came across the newspaper article in mom and dad’s stuff after my mother died Jan 2022 and mailed it to a family member whose name doesn’t come to me now. She was appreciative for it. Thanks for reminding of the early prairie fire killing the farm hand. Fires are so prevalent this time of year and very frightening. I have seen first hand the remains of friend’s homes from fire. Our daughter lives in a cabin in the mts and we worry about fire there all the time. A fire reduces an entire cabin to rubble in fifteen minutes. A fire in a cabin can quickly spread to the entire area. Last year a cabin next to our property caught fire during the night. Cabins have burned to the ground when no on is home. We have look out alert on our landline and will be called at any time during day or night if a fire is in her area. The original cabin built on our property in 1930 burned to the ground. Our place on that site was built in 1960 and caught on fire four years later. And, was rebuilt. I cannot imagine the horror and devastation for those who escape when fire takes off in sub freezing weather. Losing everything.
Bruce said: Yes, cold winter building fires do often result in total-losses to the structures.
Wendy W. says: Very interesting. Like the inserted photos of dresser and bracelet. And starting with more recent fires in the cold of winter.
Wendy
Reading is like breathing!
I know the feeling about fire in cold. We had a 24x12 two story shop go up in flames at -25. The shop and all the Ak tools, etc. were gone in less than 15 minutes. Everything inside was lost. The fire did not spread to the house. Insurance payment included coverage of over 800 books. "Did a library burn down?" the adjuster asked. "No, just years and years of books collected by myself and husband as teachers. "
Thanks Lynn. My husband and I were just discussing the number of books we each own.
Did Russell still work for the railroad?
Yes, he still had his railroad job. The night of the fire 🔥 the family slept in the depot.
They put all their savings into the store in hopes that it would provide a future the children.