On 6/8/1998 in Haysville, Kansas (five miles south of Wichita) at approximately 9:20 a.m. a series of explosions occurred at the DeBruce Grain elevator facility (one of the largest in the world) that killed seven and injured ten employees. The facility had two-hundred-forty-six, 70,000 bushels, concrete silos, measuring 30’ in diameter and over 120’ in height; on the day of the incident, the facility was at about 50% of capacity. The entire facility suffered damage to varying degrees. Rescue efforts continued for five days. “The initial explosion, which set off a series of additional explosions, occurred when grain dust ignited in the eastern tunnel under the south array of silos. The ignition source was a concentrator roller bearing that had not been properly lubricated. The non-lubricated bearing seized causing the roller to lock into place, while the conveyor belt continued to move over the locked roller. All the friction caused by the moving belt heated the roller to a scorching temperature of 260 degrees Celsius. This is well beyond the 220 degrees Celsius needed to ignite layered grain dust. This initial ignition set of a series of explosions throughout the facility begins in the eastern tunnel of the south array silos. The explosion utilized a crossover tunnel allowing it to spread in both directions of the two tunnels in the south array. Once it reached the head-house the blast and fire blew upwards through the head-house and into the southern and northern galleries. As the blast waves passed beneath the northern silos the blast rose through the silos and popped most of the tops of the silos off due to the intensity of the blast. The southern gallery was not nearly as damaged as the northern gallery because a dust clean-up had recently been completed. Most of the silos in the north array were destroyed by the explosion along with the 21-story head-house.”
On 6/8/1905 a Brooklyn, New York (FDNY) firefighter “was killed when the roof collapsed in on him as he operated at a three-alarm fire in a cotton storage warehouse that was heavily involved.”
On 6/8/1909 a Decatur, Illinois firefighter died while operating at a grain mill fire at 800 West Eldorado Street.
On 6/8/1952 a Chicago, Illinois firefighter died, and ten firefighters were injured during a 4-11 fire at the Terre Paper Box Company, a manufacturer of telescoping paper boxes, located at 1724 North Winchester in Chicago that started on June 7. “The next day, the firefighter died at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital from injuries he had sustained during the fire. He and other firefighters had been operating hoselines on the roof of a smaller building adjoining the factory when part of a wall from the burning building collapsed on them. Several firefighters avoided injury by leaping off the roof, but many others sustained broken bones and other injuries when struck by debris. One firefighter was crushed by debris from the wall and suffered a broken back. Investigations into the $200,000 fire determined that it was probably started by burglars who had been spotted climbing out a window shortly before the fire alarm. Further investigations revealed that several tools were missing from the plant following the fire.”
On 6/8/1984 a Bristol, Pennsylvania firefighter “was electrocuted while battling a blaze at the Purex Factory when his aluminum ladder touched a live wire. The fire was caused by an arsonist at a guard shed of a company that was on strike.”
On 6/8/1984 a Jackson, California firefighter “was operating with a backpack extinguisher on a grass fire near Jackson when he stepped on a powerline. He died of electrocution.”
On 6/8/2014 a Monmouth County, Union Beach, New Jersey firefighter died after “flames broke out around 6:00 p.m. inside a commercial building on Union Avenue in Union Beach that houses a hydraulic equipment company. It is normally closed on Sundays, so it’s not immediately clear if anyone was inside when the fire started. The firefighter had gone in and out of the building several times, and the last time he exited, he collapsed and died.”
On 6/8/2008 the Texas Governor’s Mansion, also known simply as Governor’s Mansion in downtown Austin, Texas was badly damaged by an arson fire started with a Molotov cocktail. Construction started in 1854, and the home of every governor since 1856, was midway through a major renovation, the Governor and his family were not home when the fire started.
On 6/8/1977 four persons died in a fire at the Cokato Hotel, the Wright Co Minnesota.
On 6/8/1917 a metal mine fire killed 163 in Butte, Montana after a paraffin paper that wrapped the electrical cable accidentally touched his carbide lamp.
On 6/8/1909 the Presque Isle, Maine conflagration damaged over 100 buildings.
