
Below you’ll find a non-exhaustive list of significant events in fire service history that happened in the month of February, including major incidents, firefighter line-of-duty deaths (LODDs), innovations, and the like. Thanks to Grant Schwalbe and Sam Hittle for proving their insights, as well as the work of Glenn Corbett.
Some of these incidents may provide a springboard for your company training or training ideas for drills.
February 1
Dearborn (MI) power plant (auto manufacturing complex) fire, $717M loss, 1999
Joelma office fire kills 179, Sao Paolo, Brazil, 1974
February 2
Coast to Coast Hardware store fire kills 13, Eagle Grove, IA, 1973
February 3
LODDs: Nine Syracuse (NY) firefighters killed in Collins Block fire, 1939
Thiokol Chemical Co. fire kills 29, Woodbine, GA, 1971
February 4
Fire Technology begins publication this month, 1965
February 5
Banko Paradise Hotel fire kills 30, Tokyo, Japan, 1969
February 6
“Black Thursday” forest fires damage 50K square miles, Australia, 1851
February 7
Great Baltimore Fire, 1904
February 8
Loebel’s Restaurant fire kills 89, Berlin, Germany, 1946
February 9
USS Lafayette fire, $598M loss, NYC, 1942
February 10
First fire extinguisher patent issued to Alanson Crane, 1863
February 11
Madrid-Barcelona Express train fire kills 34, Zaragoza, Spain, 1965
February 12
Knitting factory under apartments fire kills 19, Hong Kong, 1968
February 13
First state-level insurance regulatory act passes, Massachusetts, 1799
February 14
Stardust Cabaret discotheque fire kills 44, Dublin, Ireland, 1981
LODDs: Three Pittsburgh (PA) firefighters killed in Bricelyn Street Fire, 1995
The three members were killed when they ran out of air and were unable to escape from the interior of a burning dwelling. The victims were all assigned to Engine Company 17 and had advanced the first hoseline into the house to attack an arson fire in the basement. When found, all three were together in one room and had exhausted their air supplies. Three other firefighters had been rescued from the same room, which caused confusion over the status of the initial attack team.
- Belowgrade Fires: Firefighter Traps
- Firefighter Personal Escape Training: Ladder Bail Out Safety
- Never Forget Them or Their Lessons
February 15
Commodore Hotel fire and gas explosion, 43 firefighters and 29 civilians injured, St. Louis, MO, 1978
First U.S. graduate Fire Protection Engineering Program, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1979
LODDs: Bryan (TX) Knights of Columbus LODDs, 2013
- May Their Sacrifices Not Be in Vain: Bryan (TX) LODD Case Study
- Main Street Firefighting: Bryan (TX) Firefighter LODDs
- Every Second Matters in a Flashover
February 16
Australia “Ash Wednesday” forest fires kill 76, 1983
LODD: Sterling (VA) explosion, Trevor Brown, 2024
February 17
Katie Jane Nursing Home fire kills 72, Warrenton, MO, 1957
February 18
Manhattan State Hospital fire kills 25, Ward’s Island, NY, 1923
LODD: Burnsville (MN) FF-Medic, officers shot dead, 2024
February 19
Spencer Mine explosion kills 7, Pottsville, PA, 1846
February 20
First U.S. chartered fire insurance company, Philly, 1768
The Station nightclub fire kills 100, West Warwick, RI, 2003
February 21
NY Bronze Powders Co. warehouse, $210M loss, Elizabeth, NJ, 1985
February 22
Madrid Spectacle Frame Company fire kills 24, Madrid, Spain, 1961
February 23
One Meridian Plaza fire, Philadelphia, PA, 1991
February 24
Gal Sejour home for the aged fire kills 16, St. Gilles, Belgium, 1965
February 25
Oil pipeline explosion kills 508, Cubatao, Brazil, 1984
February 26
WTC bombing and fire kills 6, injures 1,164, NYC, 1993
February 27
Telephone exchange fire, $205M loss, NYC, 1975
February 28
First joint stock fire insurance company, Philadelphia, 1810
February 29
- Fire History and LODD Calendar: January
- Fire History and LODD Calendar: June
- Fire History and LODD Calendar: July
- Fire History and LODD Calendar: August
- Fire History and LODD Calendar: September
- Fire History and LODD Calendar: October
- Fire History and LODD Calendar: November
- Fire History and LODD Calendar: December