On 6/20/1919 the Mayaguez Theater fire killed one-hundred-fifty in San Juan, Puerto Rico “The Yaguez Theater was inaugurated in 1909 in the urban center of the town of Mayaguez.” “The World Almanac and Book of Facts states that 150 people died in the fire, although the records are vague and mostly sensationalist. According to the evidence, investigations after the fire exonerated Maymón, the owner, of all culpability, and indeed pointed the finger at local entities (namely the Municipal government body at the time), who had an interest in the location (the land) where the Teatro Yagüez stood, and who indeed, tried to purchase the land after the fire, and being unable to purchase it, attempted to expropriate it but without any success. However, there was never any evidence, only accusations and theories never proven. 100 years later, a new theory came forth, the most likely suspect of that fire was the nitrate films stored in a closet inside the theatre. The Teatro Yagüez was finally rebuilt and re-inaugurated on March 21, 1921, after a lawsuit between Francisco Maymón and the Municipal Council of the city, in which Francisco Maymón prevailed.”
On 6/20/1894 a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania firefighter will die on July 7, 1894, from injuries he sustained at a two-alarm fire at the Burr Brothers rag warehouse at 115 S. Water St., after a wall had collapsed.
On 6/20/1900 a San Francisco, California firefighter “died of injuries and burns received while rescuing a man from a burning building. The man that he rescued lived.”
On 6/20/1919 a Los Angeles, California firefighter “died of burns he suffered June 2, 1919, at a grass fire, at Marmion Way and Pasadena Avenue.”
On 6/20/1922 a Wilmington, Delaware firefighter died after he “responded to an alarm at 220 King Street, where he and other firefighters had almost extinguished the fire when an alley wall collapsed and buried him under tons of brick and mortar. His back was broken, and he died in the hospital.”
On 6/20/1929 a Manhattan, New York (FDNY) firefighter died after he and several other firefighters became trapped while working at an exceptionally severe cellar fire. He was found but could not be revived and died of asphyxiation. Many other firefighters were overcome in the rescue effort.”
On 6/20/1940 “Manhattan Box 355 was transmitted at 12:02 p.m. for a manhole fire on Washington Street, between Clarkson and Leroy Streets. The arching wires burned into the cellar of 591 Washington Street, the seven-story Great Atlantic Paper Warehouse. Flames spread quickly inside the huge structure requiring five alarms. At the height of the fire, the warehouse collapsed, destroying the aerial of Hook & Ladder Company 5, and damaging the hose wagon of Engine 13. Lines were stretched and operated from the roof of the nine-story warehouse at Leroy and Greenwich Streets, and every available position. In all 50 firefighters were injured or overcome at this difficult blaze.”
On 6/20/1952 a Chicago, Illinois firefighter “suffered a heart attack after he was overcome by smoke while fighting a fire at 1310 W. Argyle Street. He was in relief command of Inhalator Squad 4 when he responded to the fire, and he joined firefighters in attacking an attic fire with hand pumps. The firefighter collapsed when he exited the structure to call for a hose line, and he was transported to Ravenswood Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.”
On 6/20/2011 two Florida Division of Forestry Rangers lost their lives battling the “Blue Ribbon Fire.” “Two Suwannee Forestry Center, Florida Division of Forestry, Lake City, Florida Forest Rangers were assigned to the “Blue Ribbon Fire,” a lightning-caused wildfire in Hamilton County. Wildfires ravaged the state, burning more than 200,000 acres. This fire had initially been contained on June 16th, but it had spread beyond the containment area when checked on June 20th. Both Forest Rangers operated tractor/plow units. During operations, one of the units became stuck. The second unit and operator attempted to assist. As the wildfire approached, both operators abandoned their units and attempted to outrun the fire. They were overtaken by the progress of the fire and died. Neither firefighter attempted to deploy a fire shelter. Both firefighters died of burns.”
On 6/20/2002 a coal mine gas explosion killed 111 (150) in China. “Poor safety regulations in China have long made mining there an extremely hazardous occupation.”
On 6/20/1909 a factory building fire in Watertown, Wisconsin created significant unemployment in the small community.
On 6/20/1893 the Herkimer, New Hampshire conflagration started. “The town is without adequate facilities for coping with an extensive blaze.”
On 6/20/1890 a Dunbar, Pennsylvania mine explosion killed more than thirty of the fifty-seven miners in the pit miners around 10:30 a.m.