January 1918 Fires

摘要

In this month's column, I present historic fires or significant events in the fire service from January 1918. A reminder: Readers are encouraged to share information from their departments. January 1, 1918: Norfolk, Virginia: Nearly two blocks of buildings in the heart of the business district, including the Mon-ticello Hotel, were destroyed by a series of explosions and fires. The fire started before dawn in the old Granby Theatre on Granby Street and spread quickly. Arriving firefighters were faced with an advanced fire, frozen hydrants, low water pressure, and near-zero temperatures. The growing flames soon ignited the nearby hotel.