Black Saturday: One of the largest fires in Staten Island history in photos
Black Saturday: One of the largest fires in Staten Island history in photos
On April 20, 1963, three brush fires devastated multiple Staten Island neighborhoods, burning down more than 100 houses.
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Mrs. Dorothy Vorek stands within the leveled walls of her former home at 875 Sinclair Avenue in Huguenot, as a fire pumper throws a stream to test water flow from a nearby hydrant. Mrs. Vorek's home, was one of about 100 structures destroyed or damaged in the 1963 brush fire epidemic on the South Shore – April 20, 1963. Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. –– Nearly 60 years ago, 100 homes were destroyed, as three different fires simultaneously burned through multiple Staten Island neighborhoods.
On April 20, 1963, also known as Black Saturday, a total of three large brush fires began in Rossville, Tottenville, and Mariners Harbor. In their wake, the fires caused more than $2 million of property damage and left over 500 people homeless.
Remains of a home on Edge Grove Avenue that was burned down in the historic brush fire that caused more than $2 million in damage to houses and businesses in Mariners Harbor and on the South Shore in 1963 – April 21, 1963 (Staten Island Advance/ Jim Romano)
It was dry and windy outside when the first and largest brush fire ignited at around 10:00 AM on Arthur Kill Road in Rossville. Powerful 50 mph winds spread the fire east through Annadale and Huguenot, reaching as far as Hylan Boulevard.
Historic fire of Black Saturday burns through brush near Page Avenue and Richmond Valley Road – April 20, 1963 (Staten Island Advance)
At around the same time, a second fire began near the Tottenville beachfront, ravaging houses, a restaurant, and the South Shore Swim Club before stopping near Mount Loretto.
The third fire, which scorched 11 houses in Mariners Harbor, started around noon.
Flames, that licked at woodlands, homes, just about everything as they swept by, brought disaster to hundreds of Staten Islanders in Spring of 1963 – April 1963 (Staten Island Advance)
While no deaths were reported, 36 people received medical treatment at hospitals. Five people were admitted to hospitals for more serious injuries.
Fireman, James Fisher of Company 187, was injured in Tottenville during Black Saturday – one of the worst fires in the history of Staten Island. The 1963 inferno scorched 100 homes across the South Shore and Mariners Harbor – April 21, 1963 (Staten Island Advance)
To make matters worse, the water pressure in the fire hydrants on Black Saturday was so low that many firemen were left to helplessly watch the fires consume homes and businesses.
Evergreen trees on the grounds of St. Francis Seminary, atop Todt Hill, wither before the blazing onslaught of a brush fire in the area. On this day, known as Black Saturday, approximately 100 homes were destroyed by brush fires across the South Shore and Mariners Harbor – April 20, 1963 (Staten Island Advance/ Jim Romano)
“Some firemen cried as the houses burned down,” one woman shared. “There wasn’t any water. The firemen stood by and couldn’t do a thing.”
The house that once stood on this site on Claypit Road in Pleasant Plains was swallowed by the 1963 brush fire, but the steps and foundation remain -- a playground for neighborhood children. They are, left to right, Robert McKinney, Katherine McKinney, Jeffrey Moody, and Bernard McKinney – April 19, 1965 (Staten Island Advance/ John Padula)Staten Island Advance
For many living in the area during the fire of April 20, 1963, all that remained after the flames were extinguished were a few walls of a home with a charred car outside – April 20, 1963 (Staten Island Advance)
Stanley Haugland of 754 Rossville Avenue, looks at chest that belonged to his neighbor, Harry Anderson of 746 Rossville Avenue. Very little remained in parts of the Rossville neighborhood after Black Saturday when a massive brush fire blazed through Rossville, Annadale, and Huguenot – April 21, 1963 (Staten Island Advance)
A Tottenville woman, identified as Mrs. Kramer of Surf Avenue, had her car as well as her house destroyed by the ravenous fire on Black Saturday that left more than 500 Staten Island residents homeless in 1963 – April 21, 1963 (Staten Island Advance)