Fire at the Hotel Norton on 104 Second Street southeast in Rochester. This was a very difficult fire to fight given the extreme cold temperatures. Several people died in this fire. The event spurred other businesses in Rochester to install sprinker systems.
A day-by-day listing of the time, location, parties involved, cause, equipment used and damages for fires that were responded to by the Rochester Fire Department.
Color silent film of a grass fire along Highway 63 ditches, just to the south of Rochester, and how firemen are attempting to put out the fire. The following events take place in the film: (00:41) A People's Electric Company truck and employee are watering down an electrical pole that was scorched. (00:52) Fireman John Loftus in one the right in the grey uniform. 1:28 Fireman Sizer is carrying a shovel across the burned area.
Panoramic view of Hibbing Fire Department personnel in uniform and civilians in suits posed in front of Fire Hall Number 3 (located on First Avenue and 26th Street East in Hibbing, Minnesota. The photograph is captioned: "Hibbing Fire Department, June 24, 1931, Fire Department Comm: #1 - H. Burkman, #2 R. Nelson, #3 J. McDonald." Houses and cars flank the left side of the photograph and the Ladder Truck as well as Firefighter personnel, parked cars and houses flank the right side of the photograph.
Black-and-white, mostly silent, film of firefighters battling the blaze at the 52 year-old Norton Hotel on February 6, 1967. The hotel was located on the edge of the Zumbro River, on Second Street Southeast. Several people were injured as they jumped to escape the flames and several people were found dead in their rooms the following day. The firefighters were hampered by the extreme cold weather, with a high temperature of 12 degrees below zero, and ice that formed over everything. The hotel had no sprinkler system and the fire provided impetus to install sprinklers in businesses. The following events take place in the film: (00:27) Fire Chief Ollie Mertz in the white coat. (01:42) When ladder truck #32 arrives, it was driver Bill Haas' first day on the job. (02:00) Fireman with his hat off is Bob Fanning. (03:37) Firemen Buske and Mertz drinking coffee. (03:43) Survivor Wayne describes how he got out of the hotel and there is sound for his interview. (05:04) February 7th, 1967 investigators are able to clear those who were killed from the building and start looking for causes of the blaze.
Interview with Margaret Buley, wife of James Buley. She relates a brief account of her husband's life, including that he served as a member of the Brainerd Fire Department for 30 years. This interview is part of a Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Crow Wing County during the years 1936-1939. This outreach effort sought to record personal accounts of the lives of early Crow Wing County pioneers and settlers.
Retired fire chief Bob Laack shares the early beginnings of the volunteer Rochester Fire Department in 1866 and describes changes in equipment, stations and daily activities of the firemen.
KROC Radio host Butch Morganson broadcasts this episode of the series, "The Hum of Industry" live from the Rochester Fire Station at the corner of Sixth Street and Broadway Avenue. Fire Chief Cecil E. Ginther is interviewed about the daily life of a fireman as they walk through the building describing the various rooms. Also heard are Assistant Chief Frank Adair and Fireman Dan McLaughlin.
McKinley Elementary School, Waite Park, Minnesota, destroyed by fire. Three sets of Waite Park firefighters on ground with hoses hosing down roof with smoke billowing out the top of school.
Color film with no sound. Tables are set up in a city garage for the potential candidates to take the written civil service test for part of the exam to be a Rochester firefighter. The physical portion of the test is done at Soldier's Field track and includes running, long jump, high jump, and pull ups.
