From the Archives: Fires in Spokane

Spokane has seen its share of spectacular fires through the years, and The Spokesman-Review archives are full of the evidence.

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Section:Gallery

Fri., Jan. 10, 2014

An exploding gasoline storage tank caused a three-alarm fire just west of what has then called Hangman Creek bridge on Sunset Highway on June 17, 1941, in Spokane. Three people were slightly injured. The flames finally ate their way to the top story of the brick structure before being brought under control. Dense smoke complicated the firefighters' job. The few residents of the apartment who were home made their escape by sliding down awnings.

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In the early morning hours of Nov. 8, 1939, a three-alarm fire at 402 W. Sprague in Spokane caused an estimated $150,000 damage to several businesses and injured three firemen. Firms suffering losses were the Armstrong Hotel, the Bakery Inn, Peter Jacoy retail and wholesale cigar store, Scott's Supply, Rainbow Barber shop, Nelson's Sewing Machine company, and Western Display and Advertising company. Fire Chief William Payne was said the fire was one of the worst downtown fires in recent years.

Photo Archive The Spokesman Review
In the early morning hours of Nov. 8, 1939, a three-alarm fire at 402 W. Sprague in Spokane caused an estimated $150,000 damage to several businesses and injured three firemen. Firms suffering losses were the Armstrong Hotel, the Bakery Inn, Peter Jacoy retail and wholesale cigar store, Scott's Supply, Rainbow Barber shop, Nelson's Sewing Machine company, and Western Display and Advertising company. Fire Chief William Payne was said the fire was one of the worst downtown fires in recent years.

Photo Archive The Spokesman-Review
In the early morning hours of Nov. 8, 1939, a three-alarm fire at 402 W. Sprague in Spokane caused an estimated $150,000 damage to several businesses and injured three firemen. Firms suffering losses were the Armstrong Hotel, the Bakery Inn, Peter Jacoy retail and wholesale cigar store, Scott's Supply, Rainbow Barber shop, Nelson's Sewing Machine company, and Western Display and Advertising company. Fire Chief William Payne was said the fire was one of the worst downtown fires in recent years.

Photo Archive The Spokesman-Review
All available firefighters, naval training students at Gonzaga University and volunteers battled flames at the McGoldrick Lumber Company for several hours Aug. 10, 1945, in Spokane. This photo was taken when the fire was at its height. Residents in the district were kept busy fighting burning embers that were carried several blocks by the steady breeze that whipped the flames.

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Shortly before the walls caved in, firefighters battled the flames that totally destroyed the Bon Marche's warehouse at Jefferson on Sept. 26, 1957, in Spokane.

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Eliza Hill, 85, of Spokane Valley, on Aug. 30, 1963, surveys the fire damage to a two-story home at 504 N. Pines that she had used to store space hundreds articles she had been collecting for years. Firemen reported they had located a small cache of money she had hidden in the damaged structure but had to escort her from the smoldering mass for fear of the building collapsing.

Paul Pavlos The Spokesman-Review
People view the Havermal Island warehouse fire April 3, 1970.

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Smoke billows from a 150-foot high elevator Aug. 7, 1958, as a fire destroys the $100,000 Farmers Feed and Supply Company at 3605 E. Sprague in Spokane County. The three-alarm fire reduced the corrugated iron and frame building to charred wreckage within 20 minutes after starting at 3:53 p.m. Edwin A. Roberts, the owner, had operated the business at that same site for 22 years.

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The fire at the Long Lake Lumber Company yards Cook and Mallon in Spokane destroyed thousands of feet of choice pine and a huge drying shed Oct. 6, 1944. Flames were visible for miles.

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Bystanders watch fire crews battle the McCallister Warehouse fire on Jan. 5, 1951, in Spokane.

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Fire Chief William Russell, left, and a police officer keep onlookers from entering the damaged Moose Lodge Temple on April 27, 1964, in Spokane after an early three-alarm fire that destroyed the above-ground floors and contents of the three-story building. Floor support timbers and huge masses of debris blocked the entrance.

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A network of hose lines sprawled over the street as firefighters battled flames in the Purchase Exchange of Spokane store at 330 W. Sprague on Oct. 30, 1944.

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Flames leap out of a window high up on the old Rainier Brewery building's wall as firefighters descend a ladder Jan. 10, 1964, The two-alarm fire swept through the structure, partially being razed to make room for the new Spokane Young Women's Christian Association building at Lincoln and Broadway in Spokane. The blaze was out of control for an hour.

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Fire crews make their way inside the Safeway store at 2008 Northwest Boulevard in Spokane just before the roof fell in Dec. 3, 1951.

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Firefighters haul mannequins from a display window at Savon's Store, 801 W. Riverside in Spokane, which was destroyed by fire Dec. 19, 1957. Heavy smoke and heat from the fiercely burning blaze made firefighters' jobs tougher than usual. Some were sickened by the smoke but no serious injuries were reported. It appeared all stock in the store was destroyed.

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Smoke and flames rise from the remains of the Spokane Country Club on May 1, 1946. The clubhouse was eventually rebuilt.

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People watch a fire engulfing 1,000 tires at the gravel pit at Cedar and Francis in Spokane on June 27, 1968.

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Flames soar high over old buildings Aug. 26, 1966, at Broadway and Havana in Spokane.

Photo Archive The Spokesman-Review