Posts Tagged Mickelberry Sausage Factory fire

Chicago Fire Department news – Mickelberry Fire Ceremony

Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:

People blocks away from the Mickelberry Sausage Plant were knocked off their feet when a deadly explosion caused by a gasoline fire leveled the building in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Feb. 7, 1968. Four firefighters were killed.

On Wednesday — 50 years later — more than 100 Chicago firefighters gathered at the site of the fire to remember their bravery, as well as the lives of five employees of the company who also perished.

Moments before the late afternoon blast, Arthur G. Murray, a 23-year-old accountant, was on the roof of the brick building with several co-workers as firefighters scrambled to get them down ladders. Billowing smoke had forced them to the roof. The blaze was being fed by a gasoline tanker that — after completing a delivery to the sausage plant — began leaking fuel into the building’s basement. When the gas reached the boiler, it ignited.

Murray was standing at the edge of the building’s roof, watching the chaos on the street below with an odd sense of detachment when he heard one firefighter tell another: “We’ve got to get people off this roof because it’s going to blow.”

“And as soon as he said the word ‘blow,’ the building just disintegrated,” Murray recalled Wednesday. “I was blown off the roof,” he said. “I ended up across Halsted Street in a used car parking lot — banged against several automobiles — but I was conscious all the while,” he said.

Firefighter Charles Bottger, 27, Firefighter Thomas Collins, 45, Captain John Fischer, 40, and Firefighter Edward Leifker, 40 were killed.

More than 70 people were injured.

However, the carnage could have been much worse. At the time of the explosion, most factory workers had left for the day. Only a skeleton crew remained — most of whom escaped.

thanks Dan

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Chicago Fire Department news – Mickelberry Fire Ceremony

Chicago FD Memo M-06-18

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Historic 5-11 Alarm fire with multiple LODD in Chicago, 2-7-68 (more)

This from Eric Haak:

The following are rare images of the Mickelberry fire on February 7, 1968. The first image is the only image I know that shows the building before the 3rd explosion which leveled the plant. If you can view this image in a larger format, you can clearly see the people waiting on the roof to be rescued. There is at least one truck parked in front without it’s aerial up and there appears to be a chief or two looking up at the men on the roof. There is also either a truck or engine arriving northbound on Halsted. Image 2 was badly scratched and still has quite a bit of damage. Image 3 shows the helicopter used by Chief Quinn to access the scene. Image 4 shows the gasoline truck in the alley after it had been cleared of rubble. Many of the other images are self-explanatory. The last is damage that occurred to one of the rigs on scene.

early photo of the Mickelberry fire in Chicago

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

click image for large download

Chicago FD Snorkels work during the Mickelberry fire

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

vintage Chciago Police Department helicopter

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

tanker truck after explosion

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

classic Chicago firefighters at work from SS1 and SS2

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

Chicago Fire Commissioner Richard J. Quinn and Mayor Richard J. Daley

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

Chicago Fire Commissioner Richard J. Quinn and Mayor Richard J. Daley

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

aftermath of Mickelberry fire in Chicago

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

Chicago fire truck destroyed by fire

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

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Historic 5-11 Alarm fire with multiple LODD in Chicago, 2-7-68

This from Steve Redick:

Another famous and tragic incident. A gasoline tanker leaked and caught fire in the alley at 801 W. 49th Place, Mickelberry Food Products, resulting in a tremendous explosion killing four members and several civilians. My dad was on SS3 and responded. He told me of wading through waist deep water, covered in gasoline in the basement, shutting off utilities as ordered. He often said they were lucky no one was hurt during this operation and they never should have been down there in the first place. This was well after the explosion. They didn’t arrive until later in the fire. The audio can be heard HERE.
Steve
Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago February 7 1968

Warren Redick collection

Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago February 7 1968

Warren Redick collection

Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago February 7 1968

Warren Redick collection

Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago February 7 1968

Warren Redick collection

Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago February 7 1968

Warren Redick collection

Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago February 7 1968

Warren Redick collection

Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago February 7 1968

Warren Redick collection

Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago February 7 1968

Warren Redick collection

Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago February 7 1968

Warren Redick collection

Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago February 7 1968

Warren Redick collection

Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago February 7 1968

Warren Redick collection

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