Below you’ll find a non-exhaustive list of significant events in fire service history that happened in the month of November, 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.
November 1
Dance hall fire kills 125, Grenoble, France, 1970
November 2
Explosion kills thousands, Salan Tunnel, Afghanistan, 1982
November 3
Metal mine fire kills 51, Ishpeming, MI, 1926
November 4
Forest fire damages 37 homes, Topanga, CA, 1948
November 5
Sunday Creek #6 coal mine explosion kills 82, Millfield, OH, 1930
November 6
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is founded, Boston, MA, 1896
November 7
Halifax (NS) Poor House fire kills 31, 1882
LODD: Houston (TX) Firefighter Marcelo Garcia killed in collapse at warehouse fire, 2024
November 8
First recorded use of mechanical water tower, NYC, 1879
November 9
Great Boston Fire, loss worth $1.146M, 1872
November 10
USS Mount Hood munitions explosion kills 373, Admiralty Islands, 1944
November 11
Coats boarding house fire kills 14, Pioneer, OH, 1979
November 12
Tinker AFB repair plant fire, $244M loss, Norman, OK, 1984
November 13
St. Paul coal mine explosion kills 259, Cherry, IL, 1909
LODD: Worcester (MA) Fire Lieutenant Jason James Menard dies, 2019
LODD: Chicago Firefighter Andrew Price dies, 2023
November 14
Hoechst Celanese Chemical fire, $346M loss, Pampa, TX, 1987
November 15
Stratford Apartments home hotel fire kills 25, Los Angeles, CA, 1973
November 16
Northwestern Mine explosion kills 31, Ravensdale, WA, 1915
November 17
Learn Not to Burn Foundation incorporated, Quincy, MA,1986
National Firemen’s Journal (Fire Engineering) publishes first issue, 1877
November 18
Ballantyne Department Store fire kills 41, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1947
November 19
Gas storage area explosion kills 334, Mexico City, Mexico, 1984
November 20
Club Cinq Sept fire kills 143, St. Laurent du Pont, France, 1971
November 21
MGM Grand Hotel fire kills 85, Las Vegas, NV, 1980
- From the Fire Engineering Vault: MGM Grand Fire/Monte Carlo Fire
- Medical Aspects of Tragedy At MGM Fire in Las Vegas
November 22
Phillips Dance Hall & Martin’s Grocery fire kills 25, Ville Platte, LA, 1919
November 23
Golden Age nursing home fire kills 63, Fitchville, OH, 1963
November 24
Home gas explosions kill 105, Danaciobasi, Turkey, 1980
November 25
Taeyokale Hotel fire kills 163, Seoul, South Korea, 1971
November 26
Pakistani International B-707 in-flight fire kills 156, Saudi Arabia, 1979
November 27
Capitol International DC-8 post-crash kills 47, Anchorage, AK, 1970
November 28
Cocoanut Grove night club fire kills 492, Boston, MA, 1942
- Flammable Decorations, Lack of Exits Create Tragedy at Cocoanut Grove
- The Cocoanut Grove Fire: A Nonmystery
November 29
Hotel Concorde wedding reception fire kills 11, Margarita Isl., Venezuela, 1987
November 30
Boomer #2 coal mine explosion kills 23, Boomer, WV, 1915
