Fire at Plywood Sales & Box Company. A huge crowd gathers on Alaska Street and across the railroad tracks to watch fire fighters douse the billow of black smoke rising from the old two-story frame building. (T. Times, 3/27/1939, p. 14).

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Plywood Sales & Box Co. (Tacoma); Fire fighters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smoke--Tacoma; Crowds--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1911. Engine House No. 5 at 1215-17 South I Street. Engine House No. 5 received an 80-horsepower Seagrave combination hose and chemical wagon in 1911. The station was in service from 1890 to 1935. (Talbot & Decker, 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny, Tacoma, Washington, p. 52, p. 18)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Tacoma Fire Department, Fire Station No. 5 (Tacoma);

ca. 1890. Copy negative of a Tacoma Fire Department horse-drawn steam pumper, circa 1890.

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1923. Three members of the Tacoma Fire Department are pictured in this early 1920's photograph with a Tacoma built engine. It is possible that this is the 1910 Seagrave Combination Hose and Chemical wagon attached to the Engine Co. No. 6. The hose wagon was rebuilt in 1922. (Talbot: 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 62)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma;

The Spanaway/Elk Plain Fire Department practices resuscitation techniques on one of their own on November 29, 1967. One fireman is being given oxygen by his fellow firefighters at the Spanaway fire station. They were part of Pierce County Fire District #7. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Opportunity.

Fire fighters--Spanaway; Fire engines & equipment--Spanaway; Artificial respiration;

This is the aftermath of a spectacular fire that broke out on May 9, 1959, on the Tideflats at the plant for the Tacoma Sash & Door Co. The fire, the year's most spectacular, completely destroyed the plant and the equipment and materials of the eight smaller companies that occupied the building. The financial loss in the fire was estimated at $400, 000. Sixteen fire companies aided by a fireboat and off duty firemen battled the blazes, whipped up by a 50 mph southwesterly wind, to keep them from spreading to other volatile industries, such as Buffelen Woodworking, the tanks at Reichhold Chemical and the Rock Wool Co. (TNT 5/9/1959, pg. 1-article & alternate photograph & 5/10/1959, pg 1 & alternate photograph)

Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Sash & Door Co. (Tacoma);

Firemen fight bravely to subdue the flames at the old Tacoma Sash & Door Co. plant on the Tideflats. Fire broke out at approximately 11 a.m. on May 9, 1959 and raged for over 2 hours, sending sparks flying far enough to start a brush fire on a Northeast Tacoma hillside across the Hylebos Waterway. Firemen from 16 companies responded to the blaze and Fire Chief Fisk sent out a call for all off duty firemen to respond as well. At stake were the surrounding factories and plants, Buffelen Woodworking, Acme, Reichhold Chemical, Justus Co. and Rock Wool Co. All of these companies worked with highly flammable materials, but sustained only light fire damage. Completely lost were the materials and stored inventories of the eight companies occupying the sash and door plant. Ironically, the buildings were for sale. (TNT 5/9/1959, pg. 1; 5/10/1959, pg. 1)

Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Sash & Door Co. (Tacoma);

Cooney Transfer & Storage Company fire. Two firemen with hose spraying water on fire. (T.Times)

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cooney Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma);

On June 21, 1938, firemen watch as the side of a building collapses and smoke billows from inside. The $30,000 fire on June 20-21 at the United States Cushman Indian Hospital destroyed the hospital commissary, a two and 1/2 story, wood frame building. The intense flames lit up the night for miles. The fire fight was hampered by a lack of water pressure. The Indian Hospital had its own pumping system and tank, but the tank had been almost emptied by the evening sprinkling of the grounds. Finally hoses were hooked up to city hydrants on Bay Street, sometimes blocks away. The commissary was razed, but its secluded location from other structures meant that the hospital itself was not in danger. (T. Times, 6/21/1938, p. 1)

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cushman Indian Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Fire at Plywood Sales & Box Company. Fire fighters spray water on an old two-story frame building. The two-alarm fire drew six fire engines and two hook and ladder trucks to fight the $5,000 blaze. (T. Times, 3/27/1939, p. 14)

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Plywood Sales & Box Co. (Tacoma); Fire fighters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smoke--Tacoma;

Fire at Plywood Sales & Box Company. Two fire fighters carry hose up ladder to second floor window of old, wood-frame, burning building, To the left, railroad signal, no. 37, shows building's proximity to the railroad tracks. (T. Times, 3/27, p. 14)

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Plywood Sales & Box Co. (Tacoma); Fire fighters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smoke--Tacoma; Railroad signals--Tacoma;

In June of 1936, Tacoma hosted the state Fire Chiefs Convention and the first ever Northwest Fire College. Pictured are a few of the veteran firemen in Tacoma for the college. Front row, left to right, Chief Henry J. Quane from Anaconda, Mt.- a well known character who hands out calling cards of pure gold, silver and copper; Chief G. W. Dewar of Havre, Mt.; Ass't. Chief J. Blamey and Chief W.P. Payne of Spokane and Chief Emory N. Whitaker of Tacoma. Back row: Chief William Sanborn and Capt. B.C. Harwood of Sprague, Wa. and Capt. Joe Cook of Seattle, drill instructor. The men are posed for a portrait beside a fire engine. The Washington State Fire Chiefs Association met on June 17th and the Northwest Fire College ran June 18-20, 1936. The Hotel Winthrop served as the location and attendees included all paid and volunteer chiefs in the state, as well as representatives from Montana, Idaho and British Columbia. (T. Times 6/19/1936, pg. 18)

Fire fighters--1930-1940; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1930-1940; Quane, Henry J.; Whitaker, Emory; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Northwest Fire College (Tacoma);

Gas mask drills and demonstrations are being given every Tacoma fireman this week. Following a lecture on the methods of combating noxious gases, a gas mask drill is held in a special smoke chamber filled with heavy sulphur fumes. The men are roped together to prevent their being separated in the dark room. A squad is shown carrying its instructor-victim, Lieut. Claude Bray, from the smoke chamber at Station No. 5. Left to right, Francis E. West, Earl P. McCormick, Arthur M. Kelchner, Lieut. Bray, Aldus F. Willis and Capt. Clarence A. Potter. (T. Times, 10/30/1935, p. 12).

Fire prevention; Fire engines & equipment; Gas masks; Poisons; Safety; Vocational education; Fire fighters--Tacoma; Fire stations--Tacoma;

At 12:45p.m. on Sunday, July 25th 1937, a fire broke out at the Puget Sound Manufacturing Company. Eight fire companies responded to the two alarm fire and fought the blaze for 5 hours. The loss to the plant exceeded $15,000. (T. Times, 7/26/1937, p. 1).

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puget Sound Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Old London Dock destroyed by fire on January 7, 1936, as the Waterside Milling Co. wheat warehouse is engulfed by flames. The 2000 foot structure was divided into long sections separated by brick fire walls. It is believed that wood dust exploded causing the fire; fortunately, there were no fatalities listed. Damages were set at $260,000. The city fireboat, led by Chief Emory Whitaker, and four Foss tugs succeeded in successfully containing the blaze. (T. Times, 1-7-36, p. 1, TDL 1-8-36, p. 1, 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 94-95).

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fireboats--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Men passing buckets of water up to roof of the M. Kibe house in Fife, which was saved from a disastrous fire at Fife Corners. Fire is visible behind house. Photograph was taken near Milton Avenue (20th St. E.) and West Side Dairy Rd. (54th Ave. E.) near the site of present Fife Swimming Pool; at the time of the fire, Fife Corners was located a half mile south of Andre's Market and the Century Ballroom. A property loss of $25,000 was attributed to the wide ranging fire. Fire fighting efforts were hampered by a lack of water and fire fighting equipment. (T. Times 5/10/1935, pg. 1) (filed with Argentum)

Fires--Fife--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Fife--1930-1940; Kibe, M.--Homes & haunts; Disasters--Fife--1930-1940;

ca. 1936. Tacoma Fire Company, Fireboat No. 1. Firefighters at stations on fire boat with far-reaching sprays in action.

Fireboats--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1936. Tacoma Fire Company, Fireboat No. 1. Firefighters at stations on fire boat directing far-reaching sprays of water into Commencement Bay. Industries in background.

Fireboats--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The Skagit Valley Fire Department takes a bow in their costumes at the end of their comic turn during the June 19, 1936 firefighting demonstration at the Stadium Bowl. The three hour show was the highlight of the Washington Fire Chiefs convention and Northwest Fire College held in Tacoma June 17-20, 1936.

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Fire fighters--1930-1940; Fire fighting--1930-1940; Northwest Fire College (Tacoma);

This photograph of Fire Chief Emory N. Whitaker was taken at Station # 2 on October 17, 1941. Mr. Whitaker served as the chief for Tacoma from May 1932 until September 9, 1944, his 63rd birthday. His career with the department began in 1903 when horses were used to pull steam-pressure fire engines and red hose-wagons. He worked his way up through the ranks to Chief. Born in Utica, NY in 1881, he died in December of 1958 at the age of 77. (T. Times 10/11/1941, pg. 1)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Whitaker, Emory; Fire stations--Tacoma--1940-1950

Jubilee Water Carnival at Point Defiance Pavilion was a great success. Over 75,000 people attended the festivities and over 27,000 cars entered the park grounds throughout the day. Spectators cheered on their favorite boats in the races and their favorite bathing beauty in the contest. Fun has had by all who attended. View of fire boat show with many people enjoying watching the incredible display (T. Times, 7/1/46, p. 2).

Fireboats--Tacoma; Regattas--Tacoma; Bays; Spectators--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Point Defiance Pavilion (Tacoma);

Tacoma Fire Department had just bought three new fire trucks from Tacoma Truck and Tractor Company. They bought two "Mack" 1,000 gallons per minute (GPM) pumpers and a 75 foot aerial ladder truck. Exterior view of Fire Station No. 2 proudly displaying their new addition, the "Mack" 1,000 GPM pumper, an unidentified man is standing next to the truck.

Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma; Fire stations--Tacoma; Vehicles--Tacoma; Tacoma Fire Department, Fire Station No. 2 (Tacoma); Tacoma Truck & Tractor Co. (Tacoma);

Fire truck at Midland Fire Department . The 500 gallon pumper truck, loaded with different sizes of hoses, stands in front of the H.M. & L Fire Department, Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 4 (Fire District No. 4 served the communities of Harvard, Midland and Larchmont). Photo taken for Ted Hoakinson, South Tacoma Motors. South Tacoma Motors handled Chevrolet trucks.

Fire engines & equipment--Midland--1940-1950; Fire stations--Midland--1940-1950; Chevrolet trucks;

Exterior view of Tacoma Fire Station No. 2, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church on left side, Tacoma's Fire Department fleet is parked along Tacoma Avenue South. The fleet includes: Peter Pirsch aerial ladder trucks, Pirsch 1250-GPM pumpers, 1000-GPM Mack pumpers, 1000-GPM pumpers, 75 foot aerial ladder truck, 750-GPM Type 85 Mack pumpers, hose wagon, line truck and a light line truck; in 1948 all staff cars were replaced. TPL-10080

Fire stations--Tacoma; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma; Ladders; Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Tacoma Fire Department, Fire Station No. 2 (Tacoma);

On the evening of March 19, 1951, a major fire broke out at the Baker Dock, 300 Schuster Parkway, on Tacoma's waterfront when a lift truck that was receiving maintenance backfired. Gil Keske, the dock employee who was working on the lift truck when it backfired, tried to put out the fire with a hand fire extinguisher. When the extinguisher failed to put out the fire, he grabbed a few handtools and escaped before the whole repair shop caught fire. The fire was fought by 9 fire department companies, the city fireboat and 4 Foss Launch & Tug Co. firefighting tugs. The damage to the center section of the warehouse, dock and contents was estimated at $250,000. A fire wall and the absence of a wind aided firemen in keeping the blaze from spreading to the remainder of the facility and the adjoining Shaffer Terminal. (TNT 3/20/1951, pg. 1)

Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baker Dock (Tacoma); Fireboats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Three of the Coast Guard's fire barges are photographed during the May 7, 1943 drill off Old Town Dock. The vessels can pump 4,000 gallons of water a minute each and move very quickly across the water. (T. Times 5/8/1943, pg. 3)

Fireboats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commencement Bay (Wash.);

Coast Guard off Old Town Dock in Commencement Bay with fire barges. The fire barges are displaying streams of water used to extinguish marine fires. Brown's Point is visible in the background. (T.Times, 5/10/43, p.14.)

Fireboats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commencement Bay (Wash.);

One of the five Coast Guard fire barges stationed in Tacoma showed off its pumping ability during a May 7, 1943 drill. The barges were propelled by two engines at the rear and could move across the water very rapidly. (T. Times 5/8/1943, pg. 3)

Fireboats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commencement Bay (Wash.);

The most deadly fire in Tacoma's history started early Saturday morning on February 17, 1945 at about 2 a.m. when the Maefair Apartments, 721 Fawcett Avenue, burst into flames. At the fire inquest held in March it was determined that 19 people died in the fire. Most of the occupants in the three-story plus basement brick faced structure were war workers, soldiers and their families, including many children. The fire was believed to have been caused by an explosion in the Hamilton Candy Company located in the building's basement. Flying embers were carried by high winds throughout many blocks in the surrounding areas but steady rain and snow flurries helped to protect against new fires. The glare from flames was visible at Browns Point across the bay, bright enough to wake sleepers. Later in the morning of the 17th firemen were still pouring water on the smoldering debris of the gutted building. (T. Times, 2/17/45, p. 1-article; Talbot: 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington p. 102-104)

Fire fighting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Disasters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Maefair Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Maefair Apartment fire is the deadliest in Tacoma's history. Before dawn on February 17, 1945 fire broke out in the Hamilton Candy Company at 721 Fawcett Avenue. The fire quickly spread upstairs to the Maefair. By the time the first alarm was received at 2:12 a.m. the building was already engulfed in flames. Twenty two of the buildings 85 occupants died before they could be removed from the burning four-story brick building. (T. Times, 2/17/45, p. 1).

Fire fighting--Tacoma; Fires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Disasters--Tacoma; Maefair Apartments (Tacoma);