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At 4:09 AM on December 22, 1910 a fire was observed in a six-story, block long warehouse @ 4300 Loomis. This was designated warehouse #7, access was blocked by railroad cars along Loomis. By 4:30 the fire was raised to a fourth (4-11) alarm, bringing 35 companies and Chief Fire Marshall James Horan to the scene. FF's were hampered by hydrants with no water, property owners had turned them off. At 5:07 there was a hot-air explosion which resulted in a building collapse. FF's who were attempting to fight the fire at a loading dock were crushed under the falling wall. 21 Chicago fire-fighters had answered their last alarm, including Marshall Horan. Until 9-11 this was the largest death toll suffered by firefighters due to a building collapse. In 1947 more FF's were killed in in Texas City but that was due to a combination of factors.
In the 30's another massive fire hit the Stockyards resulting in the response of over 90 companies from Chicago and the suburbs. Today this area is a large industrial area which has still seen it share of large fires and explosions resulting in more Chicago FF's deaths. There is a gate @ Exchange Street which is the last symbol of the stockyards. It is also the locaion of the Chicago FF's Memorial, built entirely by private contributions. It lists all the names of Chicago FF's who have paid the ultimate price up to the present day.
In the 30's another massive fire hit the Stockyards resulting in the response of over 90 companies from Chicago and the suburbs. Today this area is a large industrial area which has still seen it share of large fires and explosions resulting in more Chicago FF's deaths. There is a gate @ Exchange Street which is the last symbol of the stockyards. It is also the locaion of the Chicago FF's Memorial, built entirely by private contributions. It lists all the names of Chicago FF's who have paid the ultimate price up to the present day.