This run down of the fire came from a friend of mine on Firepics.net that is a career firefighter with one of the departments in the county.
The Rundown and the next few pictures from the collection of
David J. Dubowski
Captain, Spanish Lake E-5110
Outstanding job on the part of Nozz in posting these classis photos. I was 10 years old and remember my dad talking to the neighbor about the Friday afternoon fire. I collected all of the newspaper clippings that weekend of the fire. About 8 years later when I was getting involved with the FD I asked my mom where they were. She had thrown them all away.
Here's the response to Box 1356, 20th and Locust. Downtown companies were just picking up from a 2nd alarm fire at a paint factory at 21st and Gratiot streets, only about a dozen blocks south of the firestorm. That's why on the 1st alarm you see Pumper 4-02. Pumper 4 had relocated to Pumper 2.
1st Alarm @ 4:18 pm
Pumpers 15, 25, 4-02 H&L 13, H&L 2, BC 801, Squad 2
2nd Alarm @ 4:23 pm by orders of 801 who reported "Fire in an 8 story brick, 3 companies will lead off, 2nd alarm"
Pumpers 5, 7, 18 Snorkel 6 BC 802 Gas Truck 1
3rd Alarm @ 4:26 pm by orders of Deputy Chief 810
Pumpers 17, 9, 21 H&L 8
4th and 5th Alarm @ 4:28 by orders of 810
Pumpers 29, 8, 1, 3 Snorkel 5 BC 807 Gas Truck 2
Pumpers 10, 16, 11, 14 H&L 1
Several specials were then called bringing in all of the city's pumpers and all but 5 of the city's ladders.
Bill Doran was the STLFD's photographer and was on the scene from the start. In his first photo looking south, you see the quarters of E-38 and H&L 8 which had closed 5 years earlier. You can also see the headquartes of the Sporting News Magazine.