B Street Fire

It was a sultry Saturday evening, July 24, 1937. The blaze started about 9:15 p.m. in the rear of the Public Market grocery, and quickly ate the half block of frame buildings located in the heart of the business district.

The flames threatened the entire business district for over four hours as they raced down the block of buildings before a high wind. The Kozy Korner restaurant, the Hub Clothing company, Ross department store, Public Market, Stone's Market, and the Grand Coulee News office and plant were reduced to ash and rubble. Only about one-third of the estimated $100,000 loss was covered by insurance.

Fire Chief Archie Elliott said the only thing that saved the town was plenty of water and sufficient pressure to fight the blaze. Even with streams of water constantly wetting them, buildings across the street were scorched, and a number of windows were broken by the heat. Small fires were started up to five blocks away as the high wind fanned the flames and sent pieces of burning material floating through the air.

Two firemen and one woman were slightly injured but did not need hospital treatment.

Samuel F. Taschereau

Them Dam Writers

online 2020