Below you’ll find a non-exhaustive list of significant events in fire service history that happened in the month of January, 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.
January 1
First practical fire engine is tested, Cincinnati, OH, 1853
January 2
Meat processing plant fire kills 16, Terre Haute, IN, 1963
January 3
Marlborough Hotel fire kills 19, Minneapolis, MN, 1940
January 4
SS Atlantique passenger liner fire kills 18, English Channel, 1933
January 5
Texaco gas plant fire, loss $51M (2003 dollars), Erath, LA, 1985
LODDs: Pang Warehouse Fire, four Seattle (WA) firefighters killed, 1995
January 6
Thomas hotel fire kills 20, San Francisco, 1961
January 7
Mercy Hospital fire kills 41, Davenport, IA, 1950
January 8
M/V Erling Jarl passenger ship fire kills 14, Bodo, Norway, 1958
January 9
Laurier Palace movie theater fire kills 78, Montreal, QB, 1927
January 10
Pathfinder Hotel fire kills 20, Fremont, NC, 1976
January 11
Fire damages 263 houses, Savannah, GA, 1820
January 12
Rhodes Opera House fire kills 170, Boyertown, PA, 1908
January 13
Coal mine fire kills 91, Wilburton, OK, 1926
LODD: St. Louis (MO) Firefighter Ben Polson killed in collapse, 2022
January 14
USS Enterprise carrier fire kills 24, Pearl Harbor, HI, 1969
January 15
Great Boston Molasses Flood, 1919
NFPA launches Fire Journal this month, 1965
January 16
McCormack Place hall fire, $289M loss, Chicago, 1967
January 17
Northridge earthquake, California, 1994
Salem Maritime tanker fire kills 2, Lake Charles, LA, 1956
January 18
Sacred Heart College fire kills 46, St. Hyacinthe, PQ, 1938
January 19
Dance hall fire kills 31, Taipei, Taiwan, 1966
LODD: Baltimore County (MD) Firefighter Mark Falkenhan killed in rapid fire progression, Lutherville, 2011
January 20
Nursing home fire kills 5, Maryville, TN, 2004
Philips refinery fire, $78M loss, Borger, TX, 1980
January 21
Gargantu bar fire kills 13, Montreal, 1975
January 22
US Maritime warehouse fire, $14M loss, Kearny, NJ, 1961
January 23
LODDs: FDNY “Black Sunday” fire, three veteran firefighters killed, 2005
January 24
M. Baer Dress Co. factory fire kills 15, New Haven, CT, 1957
Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino fire, Las Vegas, NV, 2008
January 25
Harwick coal mine explosion kills 179, Cheswick, PA, 1904
January 26
Victoria Hotel fire kills 13, Dunnville, ON, 1969
January 27
Apollo launchpad fire kills three, $413M loss, Cape Kennedy, 1967
Kiss nightclub fire, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, 242 dead, 2013
January 28
Challenger spacecraft explosion kills seven, 1986
January 29
Coal mine explosion kills 84, Stuart, WV, 1907
January 30
Pan American B-707 post-crash fire kills 95, American Samoa, 1974
January 31
Lacoste Babies HOme orphanage fire kills 17, Auburn, ME, 1945
