A History of Fires in Milwaukee and Madison College Campuses
Fires have been a recurring and destructive force in the history of Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin, impacting homes, businesses, and even college campuses. From accidental blazes to acts of arson, these incidents have shaped the cities' development, safety regulations, and community responses. This article delves into notable fires, exploring their causes, consequences, and the lessons learned.
Early Fires in Milwaukee
Milwaukee's early history was marked by several significant fires. One of the city's first major fires occurred on October 28, 1855, when the planning mill and factory of Campbell, Hogg & Welch, along with a small dwelling owned by a Mr. McConnell, were destroyed. Another destructive fire broke out on March 2, 1856, on Webster Street. This fire threatened the city's main business district, but citizens managed to contain it to the buildings housing Cronen's Saloon, Noyes' Shoe Store, and Bradley's Drug Store. June 6, 1857, saw the complete destruction of all buildings on Washington Avenue from the corner of Webster Street up to Bruen's block. The newspaper reported that firefighters were present and worked diligently, but their efforts were largely wasted due to a lack of water.
The Third Ward Fire of 1892
One of Milwaukee's most devastating fires occurred on Friday, October 28, 1892. Spontaneous combustion in the Union Oil and Paint Company building on the Milwaukee River at Water Street, south of St. Paul Avenue, ignited a blaze that strong winds pushed east to Lake Michigan and south to Erie Street. By midnight, more than 440 buildings, mostly small wooden homes, were partially or completely burned out across twenty city blocks. More than 350 families-2,500 people in all, most of them Irish-were left homeless. Another 150 families suffered damage to their residences. The fire was visible from Waukegan, Illinois, to Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
The homeless sought shelter in places like the Third Ward School, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, and the old St. Gall’s Church. Victims received meal tickets, clothing, and expense money. A relief committee assisted those who lost their jobs. The fire significantly impacted the Third Ward's population, as only about ten percent of those burned out had fire insurance and many lost their jobs, especially during the Panic of 1893. The increased cost of fire-resistant brick construction further discouraged rebuilding. As a result, many residents moved west to the Irish Tory Hill neighborhood or to the industrial suburbs of West Allis, South Milwaukee, and Cudahy. Italians eventually replaced the Irish in the Third Ward, but the overall population continued to decline for decades.
Civil Disorder of 1967
The Milwaukee civil disorder of 1967, often referred to as a riot, began on the evening of Sunday, July 30. By the following morning, confrontations on the city’s streets had essentially ended, largely because of the rapid responses by Milwaukee police, Mayor Henry Maier, and Wisconsin Governor Warren Knowles, who sent in National Guardsmen. The triggering events were scuffles between African American youth and police late Sunday, particularly along the “Inner Core’s” 3rd Street. These quickly escalated into window breaking, some arson and looting, and sporadic incidents of gunfire. Early Monday morning, Mayor Maier declared a state of emergency, placed the entire city under a twenty-four hour curfew, and called for National Guardsmen, 500 of whom soon sealed off the riot area. These actions effectively contained the disturbance to the African American “Inner Core,” from Michigan to Capitol avenues and from Holton to 20th streets.
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Four deaths were attributed to the riot: a police officer and an African American youth were fatally shot, an elderly white woman was the victim of a random bullet as she lay in bed, and a lethal heart attack was also blamed on the riot. By comparison the riots in Detroit (1967), Watts (1964), and Newark (1967) experienced forty-three, thirty-four, and twenty-six deaths, respectively. In Milwaukee, approximately 100 were injured. There were 197 arrests for “serious offenses.” Active riot participants, at any given time, generally numbered around 300-350. Property damage was estimated at $570,000.
African Americans and whites disagreed over causes of the riot. The latter tended to fault out-of-control black males seeking excitement and mayhem. Maier took this view, labeling the rioters “hoodlums.” Chief Breier blamed “outside agitators,” although more than ninety percent of those arrested were Milwaukee residents. Blacks believed the causes lay with their mounting frustrations over the failures of white-dominated local leadership to deal with African American grievances. Most blacks lived in segregated and often substandard housing, while the city council repeatedly voted 17-1 against a fair housing law. The school board made no concessions toward ending segregated schools. Blacks filled few high-end jobs in government and private businesses. Most critical were black complaints of police harassment and excessive use of force in dealing with African American youth and civil rights demonstrators. In the aftermath, Mayor Maier was a hero to white Milwaukeeans.
Fires in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison has also experienced its share of significant fires.
Early Fires in Madison
Capitol Burns - A fire on February 27, 1904 destroyed the State Capitol building. The flame from a gas jet in a cloak room on the second floor caused the fire which began around 2:45 am. By noon it was burning out of control. The disaster destroyed a number of historical gems; possibly the most sentimental loss of the 20 hour blaze was the preserved body of "Old Abe" the famed eagle mascot of Wisconsin's Eighth Regiment in the Civil War. Firefighters from Janesville and Milwaukee arrived by train to aid in battling the blaze. The newspaper reported that Chief Bernard was injured early in the fire and the north wing was saved by "the heroic work of Jay H. Snell and his brave fellows." Losses for the uninsured building were estimated at $800,000 to $1 million.
J. H. Findorff & Son Planing Mill Fire - On May 13, 1909, a destructive fire at the four-story J. H. Findorff Planing Mill was considered a major threat to the City. Losses were estimated at $200,000 and included the nearly completed millwork for portions of the new Capitol building.
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Main Hall Fire - October 10, 1916, a large number of students worked with firefighters to bring a blaze at Main (later named Bascom) Hall on the University of Wisconsin (UW) campus under control. The fire was confined to the ornate dome which was destroyed and never replaced.
Parkway Theater Fire - On October 17, 1925, the roof of the Parkway Theater on West Mifflin Street collapsed as fire swept through the movie house. Several people were overcome by smoke and a panicked crowd of 1,000 reportedly stampeded. All apparatus was used at the fire. An estimated 20,000 spectators were on hand due to UW Homecoming celebrations. Firefighters could be seen jumping from the roof several times as portions gave way beneath them. Chief Heyl described their efforts as "the most energetic battle against fire" in his memory stating that it was the most threatening fire he had fought.
Mary Ann Bake Shop - On June 10, 1939, Judson H. Holocomb and Adolph N. Habich were attacking a basement fire from the main floor stairway at the Mary Ann Bake Shop, 602 South Park Street, when the floor collapsed. The collapse was blamed on a 15-ton bakery oven which had improperly overloaded the floor along with a weakening of the floor supports due to the fire below. The men were crushed by the oven as they toppled with it into the basement. They were the first Madison firefighters to die in the line of duty. Because accounts of the incident varied, details were provided in a statement by the Police and Fire Commission. The statement concluded: "We are satisfied that the deployment of the men…was proper and necessary and that no practical safety measures were neglected. At any fire the consideration of personal safety always conflicts with the necessity of reaching the fire.
Winter of 1946 - Three major fires fought in the bitter cold of winter made 1946 a memorable year. First came the Nuss Implement Fire; then the Garver's Supply fire; and finally the Heidelberg-Hofbrau fire. In the Garver's Feed and Supply fire, a wing of the building leased to six other businesses burned with explosions of stored oils, anti-freeze, and liquor hampering efforts to put out the blaze. The Heidelberg-Hofbrau fire was a four-alarm fire that damaged the Heidelberg-Hofbrau Restaurant, Rennebohm Drug and The Hub Clothing Store on West Mifflin Street. Three firefighters and one police officer were hospitalized and losses were estimated at $500,000. Several times the fire was brought under control only to be set off again by explosions of the large quantities of stored liquors.
Bassett Street Explosions - Failure of a regulating valve allowed natural gas to rush at high pressure into low pressure valves causing explosions which rocked the Bassett Street area. Five buildings were destroyed and two people killed. Fed by the gas, flames erupted continuously, leaping through cracks in the street to surround firefighters as they positioned themselves to attack the fires. A witness compared the perilous scene to "an artist's picture of hell". Bassett street losses were expected to exceed $1 million. A proud Chie Page said of the incident, it was "probably the most disastrous conflagration that the City of Madison has ever experienced. The esprit de corps and magnificent courage demonstrated by the officers and men of the Department, as well as the Police Department, Water Department, and other City and County units is worthy of the highest commendation." The bravery and performance of the firefighters drew praise from a grateful city.
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State Street Fire - A fire began at the El-Kismet Restaurant, 450 State Street, and spread to six adjacent businesses. Eight additional businesses and a rooming lodge were damaged by smoke and water causing an estimated $500,000 in damages.
Fires on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus
Fires have also impacted the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.
Math Research Building Explosion (1970)
On August 24, 1970, at 3:42 am, an unidentified caller warned police dispatcher: "Hey pig. There's a bomb in the Math Research Building on University campus. Clear the building." Within two minutes a blast, heard over 30 miles away, tore the building apart killing a 33-year old graduate student. Four fire companies responded but only minor fires followed the blast. Two hours after the explosion, firefighters found another student buried alive under the debris. Losses were estimated at $2 million.
Later Fires in Madison
Arbor Drive Apartment Building Fire - On April 1, 1978, a 32-unit apartment building at 2602 Arbor Drive "literally blew up" when fire caused temperatures inside 75 percent of the aluminum coated building to reach 1,000 degrees. The spectacular blaze was so hot it scorched and melted MFD equipment.
Packers Avenue Warehouses Fire - On May 6, 1981, a cutting torch accident ignited a warehouse leased to Oscar Mayer (1718 Holmberg Street) and spread to a second building housing Badger Sheet Metal (1717 Nelson Street). Strong Winds worked against the efforts to control the blaze. A resin stored in the Oscar Mayer building caused additional problems including heavy, toxic smoke.
West Gorham Street Fire - On January 8, 1982, a fire destroyed the Lysistrata Restaurant, Flour Box Bakery and Confectionary, Jewels, The Living Room, and a sign painting shop at the corner of North Broom and West Gorham Streets. Firefighters were hampered by a collapsing roof and sub-zero temperatures which caused water to freeze as it poured into the streets creating a 4-inch coating of ice. Ice also slowed the efforts of fire/arson investigators who concluded the blaze was intentionally set.
Don the Muffler Man Fire - On November 30, 1990, a welding torch accidentally started a blaze at Don the Muffler Man, 2208 University Avenue. Equipment, 20 cars, and a large portion of the building were destroyed in the $1 million blaze. Burning fuels, tires, cleaning solvents, and oxygen and acetylene tanks caused explosions and such intense heat that equipment could not be positioned close to the building.
Central Storage & Warehouse Fire - On May 3, 1991, at 3:31 pm, the MFD responded to a fire at the Central Storage & Warehouse Company, 4309 Cottage Grove Road. The complex, a cold storage facility consisting of five buildings totaling nearly 500,000 square feet, contained approximately 50 million pounds of food products. Upon arrival to the scene flames were already shooting high into the sky and a second alarm was requested. The fire was originally limited to one building as firefighters attacked it from all sides. Just as ten firefighters and two apparatus were moved from the east side of the structure, the wall collapsed on their previous position. The fire, fueled by the stored butter, lard, and cheese, continued to gain momentum; water had little effect on it. The melted food products caused additional problems as they mixed with water and flowed away from the building towards Starkweather Creek. Appropriate environmental agencies were called in to assist in minimizing the damage to the environment. By 6:00 pm the fire had spread to a second building and a third alarm was made. With 70 firefighters at the scene, off-duty personnel were called into man vacated stations. Additional off-duty personnel were requested to report to the staging area of Station No. 5. At 11:00 pm the second building collapsed. At midnight, with the fire threatening the facility's anhydrous ammonia tanks, an evacuation of approximately 3,000 residents within a 1/2 mile radius was ordered. By 3:30 am the fire had been pushed back from the area of the ammonia tanks and the evacuation was changed to an advisory. At noon, the MFD requested mutual aid (fifty volunteers responded) from surrounding communities to give MFD firefighters a short break to recover. On May 5 at 10:00 am, the blaze was declared "under control", but continued to smolder under tons of rubble. By 6:00 pm the fire was down-graded to a "fire watch" with 12 firefighters on the scene to extinguish hot spots as construction crews cleared away wreckage. On May 7, fire/arson investigators were able to determine the fire was accidental and that the origin of the fire to be in and around a battery propelled forklift. On May 11, eight days after the start of the fire, the fire was declared "officially out". Losses were estimated at $7.5 million in property damages, $70 million in contents, and nearly $1 million in clean-up costs.
Division St. Fire - On April 13, 2004 just before 4 AM, the 911 Communications Center received numerous phone calls for a report of some type of explosion. When MFD arrived, they found one house was collapsed (161 Division Street) and another house was on fire (157 Division Street). Heavy smoke and flames were coming from 157 Division Street, a 2 ½” hose line was used to attack the fire by Engine 3, along with Ladder 1 crew. Engine 8 crew was in charge of water supply. Ladder 8 and Rescue 3 assisted in overhaul, search and rescue. Additional crews assisted in ventilation, search and rescue and overhaul. During the search, a victim was found in the basement of the exploded house.
St. Raphael’s Cathedral - MFD was dispatched to 222 W Main St. at 5:32 am on March 14, 2005 after a passerby saw flames coming from a window and called 911. Firefighters arrived to find flames showing. A second alarm was called at 5:39 am. The cathedral, at 150 years old, was the oldest Catholic Church in Madison. Its bell tower steeple was recently replaced at a cost of $1 million. While crews initially began their fire attack inside the building, the intensity of the fire and danger of structural collapse quickly caused a switch to a defensive strategy outside. All four of the department’s fire towers were trained on the bell tower at a rate of 1,000 pounds of water per minute in an attempt to preserve the steeple and keep it from toppling. The preliminary damage estimate has been tabulated at $5 million dollars with the possibility of increasing to as much as $10 million. This case was finally closed in 2007 with the successful prosecution of William Connell. Mr. Connell received a total of 15 years in prison with an additional 15 years of extended supervision. This case required the use of many agencies to complete this investigation, including Madison Police, Dane Co.
Hamilton St Fire - Shortly before 2:45am on Sunday, May 6, 2007, City of Madison Fire Department was dispatched to 301 N. Hamilton Street, for a report of 20-foot flames billowing from the roof. Fire crews saw fire on the roof upon their arrival, and noticed that there was no smoke showing from the windows from the second floor. The building contained Pincus McBride Market and Deli, and 5 apartments that houses 14 residents. A bystander directed Engine 3 crew to a door, which gave them access to the roof area. Fire crews advanced a 300-foot hose line to the roof, pulled the hose through the building and proceeded to extinguish the fire. Ladder 1 crew conducted a search and rescue and found no one inside the building, they also gained access to the attic and found fire throughout the attic space. Firefighters pulled sections of ceiling in various second story apartments, in order to extinguish the fire in the attic. There was fire damage to roof and attic area and extensive water damage to several apartments, including Pincus McBride Market and Deli.
2222 Independence Lane -. On January 14, 2008 at approximately 3:30 PM, MFD responded to a possible structure fire in a three story, 20 unit apartment building with smoke visible upon arrival. One firefighter sustained minor injuries. Cause of the fire was a resident tampering with a cigarette lighter in an attempt to produce a larger flame.
237 Langdon St - City of Madison Fire Crews were dispatched to the Sig Ep House around 11:41 pm on May 8, 2008. Firefighters arrived on scene to a three-story fraternity house and observed that all three floors of the rear of the structure were completely involved in fire. The fire took many hours to bring under control and caused significant damage to the entire structure. One firefighter was transported to the hospital with minor burns.
6906 Old Sauk Court - On May 21, 2011 at approximately 8:00 pm, MFD responded to a structure fire. City of Madison Fire Investigators determined that the fire was caused by an overturned candle. The fire began when the candle fell onto a blanket on the living room couch. The fire destroyed two condominiums, and damaged two more, displacing more than a dozen residents and at least five pets.
1135 North Sherman Avenue - On July 15, 2011 at 10:47 pm, several calls were made to 911 Communications Center to report a large fire at the North Gate Shopping Center on North Sherman Avenue. When City of Madison Firefighters arrived, 40 foot flames were visible from the center of the mall. Firefighters noticed a large amount of fire inside the structure and flames burning through the façade roof. Firefighters fought the fire in a defensive mode using deck guns and master streams, because of the amount of fire and type of structure. Crews also protected adjacent businesses with hose lines. Firewalls minimized fire damage to adjoining businesses and prevented further damage. Boomerang Resale Shop suffered major ….
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