FIVE FIREFIGHTERS FATALLY INJURED IN COLLAPSE OF FIRE DAMAGED WAREHOUSE – THE MIDWAY FIRE – VANDALIA AVENUE, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 21, 1900

Five Firefighters Fatally Injured in Collapse of Fire Damaged Warehouse – The Midway Fire – Vandalia Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota – October 21, 1900

Submitted by Rick DeGroot

On October 21, 1900, Assistant Chief William Irvine, Lieutenant Francis Edey, Driver Louis Wagner, and Pipemen Andrew Johnson and Burtram Irish were crushed under a collapsing wall while operating at a warehouse fire in the Midway District of St. Paul Minnesota. Shortly after midnight a fire broke in a four-story wood frame meatpacking plant on Vandalia Street 200 feet north of University Avenue. As a southwesterly wind fanned the flames, the fire quickly extended to an adjacent icehouse and a single-story building. By 2:00 a.m., the fire had spread to a large three-story brick warehouse owned by the McCormick Harvester Company that was full of packing crates and heavy machinery. Fire crews worked hard to establish water supplies from the few available hydrants in the area. Long hose lays were required, and extra companies were summoned. Around 2:45 a.m., the top floor of the McCormick warehouse collapsed, causing the south wall of the building to topple outward. Eight firefighters were buried under the debris that included heavy farm machinery mixed in with the bricks and beams. It took nine hours to dig out the buried firefighters. Three escaped without serious injuries, four died on the scene, and one died from his injuries three days later. The event marks the largest number of firefighters killed in the line of duty during a single incident in the history of the St. Paul Fire Department. The total property loss was estimated at nearly $440,000 and the fire was ruled an arson, and although several suspects were investigated, no one was ever convicted of setting the fire.

The structure involved in the fire was a three-story brick and joist warehouse housing farm machinery that was produced by the McCormick Harvester Company, a forerunner of the International Harvester Corporation. The warehouse was used as a shipping depot for the farm machinery factory located nearby at 2572 University Avenue. Near the Minnesota Transfer railroad yard, the building was located in the Midway District, so named because of its location midway between the downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis. In 1900, the Midway District contained numerous industries including manufacturing plants, warehouses, meatpacking plants, railroad freight depots, and cold storage buildings.

St. Paul is the capital of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center of Minnesota’s government. The Minnesota State Capitol and the state government offices all sit on a hill close to the city’s downtown district. According to 2021 U.S. census estimates, the population of the 56.10 square mile city was 307,193 making it the second-most populous city in Minnesota. Most of the city lies east of the Mississippi River near its confluence with the Minnesota River. Minneapolis is mostly across the Mississippi River to the west. Together, they are known as the “Twin Cities” and make up the core of the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area, the third most populous metro area in the Midwest.

At the time of the fire in 1900, the city of 163,065 residents was protected by the 200 paid members of the St. Paul Fire Department operating from 22 fire stations deploying 15 steams engine companies, one aerial ladder company, six hook and ladder companies, three hose companies, 13 hose wagons, one water tower, one combination hose and chemical wagon, and 119 horses commanded by a fire chief and two assistant chiefs. The city had 176 Gamewell manual fire alarm boxes, two U.S. boxes, and 25 keyless boxes distributed about the developed areas of the city. 2,430 fire hydrants were fed from a network of water mains from reservoirs and lakes with a daily capacity of 8 million gallons. Today the city is protected by the St. Paul Fire Department operating from 15 fire stations deploying 15 engine companies, seven ladder companies, three rescue squad companies, 15 ALS medic units, three BLS ambulance units, two district chiefs, and one deputy chief/tour commander. In 2024, the department responded to 65,711 calls for service with 50,436 incidents (76%) being emergency medical calls.

Shortly after midnight on Sunday, October 21, 1900, a fire broke out in the cooling room of A.D. Hinman’s four-story wood frame meatpacking plant on Vandalia Street near University Avenue in the Midway District of the city. A passerby noticed the blaze and activated the nearest fire alarm call box turning in the alarm. The grease-soaked floors fed the flames to a fury and the whole structure was aflame within a few minutes. A southwesterly wind fanned the flames as the fire quickly extended to an adjacent icehouse and a single-story building. The fire made rapid headway through a long row of combustible buildings, leaping from one to the other until by 2 a.m., despite the best efforts of responding firemen, the entire line was a roaring furnace with tongues of flame soaring skyward and lighting the surrounding area with a dull glare that could be seen for miles. Fire crews worked hard to establish water supplies from the few available hydrants in the area. Long hose lays were required, and extra companies were summoned.

From the packing house, the blaze, aided by some nearby box cars, jumped across the railroad sidetrack and attacked the Northwestern Lime Company’s plant. Its board walls and shingle roof furnishing a swift vehicle for the fire to threaten the large adjacent warehouse of the McCormick Harvester Company. The three-story warehouse was packed with shipping crates and farm machinery ready for rail shipment. A frame barn between the lime plant and the warehouse quickly became involved in flames in spite of the fact that several streams of water were directed on the building and the adjacent warehouse. The Harvester building soon began to smoke and within a few minutes was on fire.

Second Assistant Chief William Irvine was directing the efforts of the men to control the spread of the fire to the warehouse. He led the members of Engine Company 13 up to the south wall and pointed out a spot where the fire should be fought. The men had drawn a line of hose up near the building and were standing within a few feet of the south wall of the burning warehouse. The fire was so hot that the walls began to bulge, and Chief Irvine directed the firemen to step further away from the building. They had taken up a position about 50 feet away, still directing the nozzle toward the burning building. Driver Wagner and Pipeman Irish were directing the stream, Lieutenant Edey was standing behind them, and Pipeman Johnson and William Peel had hold of the hoseline a short distance away.

Around 2:45 a.m., the men had scarcely moved back in response to the Chief’s orders when there came a muffled explosion causing the south wall of the building to topple outward before the firemen had an opportunity to utter a cry or make an effort to save themselves. Spectators saw the danger first and gave warning yells, but it was too late. Eight firefighters were covered in a torrent of white hot bricks and piles of bent and broken machinery. Of the entire crew of Engine Company 13, only one fireman, Andrew Larson was able to escape.

The work of rescuing the unfortunate men was taken up at once and citizens joined with the firemen in removing the heavy material. The companies that were at work on other portions of the large warehouse were called in, and the flames that were consuming the warehouse were allowed to burn. Horse teams from the hose carts were brought in to aid in dragging off some of the broken machinery. The services of the Great Northern Railway wrecking crew were enlisted to assist with removing the mass of brick and iron. The members of the rail crew joined in with the firemen and did effective work.

At the point where the firemen were buried, the brick was piled to a thickness of eight feet and a layer of machinery of the same depth was spread over this. In spite of the fact that a large number of men were working on the pile, it was several hours before the first body, that of Assistant Chief Irvine, was brought to light. There were a number of cuts about the dead man’s head, one of his legs was broken, his trunk was crushed, and his entire body was burned and charred.

A few feet away the mangled remains of Lieutenant Edey were taken out and further up toward the foundation of the building Wagner and Irish were found beside the hose they had dropped when the crash came. Wagner lay with his feet toward the building, face downwards, and had his hands crossed. Irish also lay with his face down and his left leg folded back under his body. His head was crushed, and his right arm was burned off at the elbow.

Johnson and Peel were working further back on the line of hose, dragging it up as the men on the nozzle required. Although each was buried under the brick, they were rescued within a short time, and neither was thought to have received fatal injuries. Peel had internal injuries and Johnson, who was in Bethesda Hospital, was said to be in no immediate danger, however, he died three days later from his injuries.

In the rear of the Harvester warehouse was a tenement house occupied by five families. The building was attacked early in the incident and burned to the ground. The families escaped with only a minor portion of their belongings. The large Northwestern Elevator Company’s No. 1 building stood but a short distance away but was saved by the efforts of the firemen and company employees. In addition to the Harvester warehouse, the Northwestern Lime Company building, an icehouse and the meatpacking plant were totally destroyed. Eight boxcars on the nearby railway siding also burned. The fire was thought to be of incendiary nature starting in the wood frame meatpacking plant and spreading to the neighboring buildings despite the efforts of the entire St. Paul Fire Department. The total property loss of the fire was estimated at nearly $440,000. The fire was ruled an arson, and although several suspects were investigated, no one was ever convicted of setting the fire.

Members of the St. Paul Fire Department killed in the line of duty during the fire and collapse at the Midway Fire on October 21, 1900:

• Second Assistant Chief William H. Irvine, age 39, was a 16-year member of the St. Paul Fire Department. Having joined the department in 1884, his first duties were those of a ladderman, and he earned several promotions until he attained his present position of Second Assistant Chief on October 25, 1898. Chief Irvine also served as a volunteer or a “Minute Man” in the Fire Department of the city in the early reconstruction days and was one of the few veterans in the present department. He was married to Miss Agnes W. Dunlap, and had two daughters, ages 11 and 15.
• Lieutenant Francis Mills Edey, age 46, was a 12-year member of the St. Paul Fire Department. A native of Canada, he had owned a carriage paint shop in Winnipeg before coming to St. Paul and joining the Fire Department in July of 1888. His first assignment was with Engine Company 1 as a pipeman and assistant at the paint shop. In December of 1890, he was transferred to Engine Company 9 and given full charge of the paint shop. In January of 1896, he became a member of Hook and Ladder Company 6, and on August 10, 1898, he was promoted to lieutenant of Engine Company 13. Edey was married to Miss Caroline Orchard and had a son, Bertram. He was buried at Oakland Cemetery in Saint Paul.
• Driver Louis Wagner, age 32, was a two-year member of the St. Paul Fire Department. A native of Wisconsin, Wagner joined the Fire Department on May 4, 1898, after working in a number of trades including farmer, teamster, and furniture mover before becoming a fireman. His first assignment was with Engine Company 9 where he was appointed a driver. On March 13, 1899, he received a promotion to driver of Engine Company 13. He was married to Miss Bertha Darso, and they had a daughter, Bertha, age five and a son, Louis, age three. He was buried at Oakland Cemetery in Saint Paul.
• Pipeman Burtram P. Irish, age 26, was a two-year member of the St. Paul Fire Department. Raised in Maine, he moved with his family to St. Paul at the age of 15. After completing school, he went to work with his father in the family grocery store and later worked with the railroad as a switchman. He joined the Fire Department on April 21, 1898, and a year later was promoted to second pipeman of Engine Company 13. He was married to Miss Lillis Parsons Banker, and they had a daughter, Ethel.
• Pipeman Andrew J. Johnson, age 30, was a two-year member of the St. Paul Fire Department assigned to Engine 9. Raised in Norway, he moved to Minnesota to age 12 to attend school and later worked as a farm hand, carpenter, and machinist. In June of 1898, he entered the Fire Department as a substitute. On March 12, 1899, he was appointed to the regular force and assigned to Hook & Ladder Company 6 as a driver, two months later he was transferred to Hook & Ladder Company 5 and later to Engine Company 8 as third pipeman. He was also detailed as a carpenter for the Department. Johnson was unmarried. He died from injuries received at the Midway fire on October 25, 1900. He was buried in Greenhill Cemetery in Saint Paul.

More than 7,000 people gathered at the Grand Opera house to honor the memory of the four brave firemen who died while in the performance of their duty. Only a portion of that number gained admittance when the doors were opened at 2:15 p.m. Thousands were turned away. Reverend John Wright of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church read the funeral services, concluding with a tribute to the dead firemen, who, he said, “they fell at the post of duty and no sentiment was too lofty in describing their virtues.”

The names of Assistant Chief William Irvine, Lieutenant Francis Edey, Driver Louis Wagner, and Pipemen Andrew Johnson and Burtram Irish are inscribed at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial which is located on the south side of the State Capitol grounds in St. Paul. The Memorial features a large monolith that forms a ceiling above the statue of a firefighter rescuing a child. The monolith is supported by 86 columns on which the names of the 255 Minnesota firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty since 1881 are inscribed. Every year, on the last Sunday of September, a solemn ceremony is held at the site to commemorate the fallen firefighters.

The site of the fatal fire is now occupied by a number of industrial buildings along Vandalia Street. There is no memorial marker at the site.

Commentary:

Firefighters need to understand the warning signs of impending smoke explosions and backdrafts when conducting fire control operations. The low-pressure waves generated from these two sudden fire events can easily topple walls and collapse roofs of structures. Smoke explosions in confined void spaces occur when unburned pyrolysis products and flammable products of combustion accumulate and mix with air, forming a flammable mixture and introducing a source of ignition that results in a violent explosion of the premixed fuel gases and air. In this incident, there was a muffled explosion which preceded the collapse of a wall of the three-story warehouse that had reportedly been filled with combustible shipping crates and farm machinery. While the exact construction details of the building are unknown, it is likely that the warehouse may have had a large overhead void space such as an attic or a vaulted ceiling formed by trusses that were commonly used in warehouse occupancies during this era. Unburned products of combustion may have accumulated in this overhead space. When the right mixture of air and an ignition source were introduced, a low-pressure explosion may have blown out the south sidewall of the structure resulting in the deaths and injuries to the firefighters.

We have attached news photos from the incident and portraits of the fallen firefighters.

We have also attached the link to an article on backdrafts and smoke explosions from group member Nick Salameh published in Fire Engineering magazine: https://www.fireengineering.com/firefighting/differentiating-the-fireground-phenomena/

Thanks to multiple media sources for the content of this article.

Honor the service of Assistant Chief William Irvine, Lieutenant Francis Edey, Driver Louis Wagner, and Pipemen Andrew Johnson and Burtram Irish by reviewing the fire behavior phenomenon of backdraft and smoke explosions and measures to control and prevent them with your crew members today.

Remember Fallen Brothers.

Get Out There And Know Your Local!!!