6/12/1928 a Chicago, IL firefighter died “while fighting a fire on Ellis Avenue. He was overcome by smoke and collapsed while inside the burning building. He was revived on scene, but continued to have difficulty breathing, so he was transported to Billings Memorial Hospital. Despite efforts to revive him, he died later that night.”
6/12/1944 a Chicago, IL firefighter collapsed and died “at the firehouse after fighting a basement fire in a rooming house on South Ashland Avenue. He and ten other firefighters had been overcome by smoke while fighting the 3-11 alarm blaze but had remained on scene until the fire was extinguished.”
6/12/1946 twenty-four Milwaukee, WI firefighters were injured when they were overcome by smoke and fumes at Pittsburgh Plate Glass. The three-alarm blaze at the paint manufacture produced multi-colored smoke.
6/12/1966 a Lead, South Dakota firefighter died “while operating at a major structure fire, he was killed when he was caught in the collapse of the building following an explosion.”
6/12/1973 two Philadelphia, PA firefighters “died from injuries they sustained after an explosion and building collapse at the Levey Ink Company. A fire was discovered in a two-story ink plant and employees sounded the alarm. During the fire, it was decided to use foam to extinguish the blaze. After the foam was applied and the third alarm had been struck, a tremendous explosion ripped through the plant. The walls of the structure were blown out and the fire rapidly extended to two other plant buildings and four dwellings across the street. The two firefighters were killed when they were caught under collapsing walls. A total of 37 other firefighters were injured either by falling walls or the explosion. It took over three hours to control the eight-alarm blaze.”
6/12/2015 a fire caused by renovation work destroyed most of the roof and heavily damaged the historical Saint Donatien Basilica in Nantes, northwest France that started around 10:30 a.m. in the church that was built in the late 19th century (1872) and is dedicated to saints Donatian and Rogatian.
6/12/1911 a conflagration damaged seventy buildings in Whitewright, TX.
6/12/1889 Grinnell, IA the business section of the town was destroyed by fire that started around 12:30 p.m. at the Treat & Company elevator along the Rock Island Railroad and spread rapidly to the adjacent buildings.
6/12/1889 a single tornado killed 119 and injured 146, New Richmond, Wisconsin.