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List of Notable Fires, with Toledo Fire Data Table (1867-1976) and Big Fires (1920-1976)

DATA

[Yearly population figures are extrapolated from the decennial census.]

Year # of Fires City Population F/P Ratio
1867 82 24877 3.29621739
1868 68 27113 2.50802198
1869 78 29349 2.65767147
1870 78 31584 2.46960486
1871 73 33439 2.18307964
1872 83 35294 2.35167451
1873 76 37149 2.0458155
1874 91 39004 2.33309404
1875 97 40859 2.37401796
1876 104 42714 2.43479889
1877 106 44569 2.37833472
1878 98 46424 2.11097708
1879 108 48279 2.23699745
1880 144 50137 2.87213036
1881 127 53267 2.38421537
1882 132 56397 2.34055003
1883 132 59527 2.21748114
1884 199 62657 3.17602183
1885 146 65787 2.21928345
1886 163 68917 2.36516389
1887 195 72047 2.70656655
1888 165 75177 2.19482022
1889 175 78307 2.23479382
1890 186 81434 2.28405826
1891 254 86473 2.93733304
1892 269 91512 2.9395052
1893 387 96551 4.00824435
1894 354 101590 3.48459494
1895 467 106629 4.37967157
1896 373 111668 3.34025862
1897 380 116707 3.25601721
1898 423 121746 3.4744468
1899 625 126785 4.92960524
1900 487 131822 3.69437575
1901 588 135490 4.33980368
1902 548 139158 3.93796979
1903 601 142826 4.20791733
1904 640 146494 4.36877961
1905 677 150162 4.50846419
1906 759 153830 4.93401807
1907 658 157498 4.17783083
1908 874 161166 5.42298003
1909 612 164834 3.71282624
1910 794 168497 4.71225007
1911 787 175964 4.47250574
1912 964 183431 5.25538213
1913 1054 190898 5.52127314
1914 1129 198365 5.69152824
1915 1067 205832 5.18383925
1916 1345 213299 6.30570232
1917 1300 220766 5.88858792
1918 1401 228233 6.13846376
1919 1304 235700 5.53245651
1920 1339 243164 5.5065717
1921 1185 247919 4.77978695
1922 1515 252674 5.99586819
1923 1704 257429 6.61930086
1924 1740 262184 6.63656058
1925 1800 266939 6.7431136
1926 1983 271694 7.29865216
1927 2132 276449 7.71209156
1928 2235 281204 7.9479666
1929 2582 285959 9.02926643
1930 3009 290718 10.3502363
1931 2383 289881 8.22061467
1932 2423 289044 8.38280677
1933 2655 288207 9.21212878
1934 3071 287370 10.6865713
1935 2670 286533 9.31829842
1936 3300 285696 11.5507392
1937 2795 284859 9.81187184
1938 2741 284022 9.65066086
1939 2569 283185 9.07180818
1940 2484 282349 8.7976228
1941 2646 284476 9.30131189
1942 2209 286603 7.70752574
1943 2585 288730 8.95300107
1944 2850 290857 9.79862957
1945 2813 292984 9.60120689
1946 2977 295111 10.0877297
1947 2724 297238 9.16437333
1948 3077 299365 10.2784227
1949 2896 301492 9.60556167
1950 2595 303616 8.5469804
1951 2801 305055 9.1819508
1952 3408 306494 11.1193041
1953 3070 307933 9.9697012
1954 2402 309372 7.76411569
1955 2542 310811 8.17860372
1956 2442 312250 7.82065653
1957 2519 313689 8.03024652
1958 2650 315128 8.40928131
1959 2748 316567 8.68062685
1960 2867 318,003 9.01563822
1961 2969 324,585 9.14706471
1962 3576 331,167 10.7981774
1963 4312 337,749 12.7668772
1964 4680 344,331 13.5915732
1965 5080 350,913 14.4765227
1966 5376 357,495 15.0379726
1967 5965 364,077 16.3838968
1968 6351 370,659 17.1343472
1969 6649 377,241 17.6253376
1970 6492 383818 16.9142667
1971 7316 380900 19.207141
1972 7163 377982 18.9506379
1973 7402 375064 19.7352985
1974 8828 372146 23.7218726
1975 9108 369228 24.667685
1976 9146 366310 24.9679233

 

The Big Fires: 1920-1976 (Source: List of Notable Fires, from History of the Toledo Fire Division, 1837-1977)

NAME                           ADDRESS                  DATE                             SIZE LOSS
[no data available] 1301 Summit April 11, 1920 2nd Alarm and specials $106,376 loss
Immaculate Conception Church Plus 5 damaged houses Eastern and Maumee April 29, 1920 Second Alarm and specials Loss undetermined
Harter Candy Co. 114-116 Huron Street November 18, 1921 [no data available] $84,000 loss
Del-Mar Apartments 2354 Monroe Street December 26, 1922 Second Alarm and specials $83,700 loss
New York Central Freight House Monroe Street February 15, 1923 [no data available] $200,000 loss
Hettrick Bros. Co. 1236 Oakwood Ave. February 20, 1923 Second Alarm and specials $168,000 loss
Eckhardt Monumental Co. 3043 Monroe St. December 20, 1924 2nd Alarm $70,000 loss
Sts Peter and Paul Church 738 5. St. Clair St. February 7, 1926 2nd Alarm $70,000 loss
Mauk Lumber Co. Elm and George St. November 22, 1926 2nd Alarm and specials $154,000 loss
Congregational Church Collingwood and Acklin February 5, 1927 Caused by a gas explosion rocking the West end, three persons killed instantly - 2nd Alarm and specials $124,948 loss
Northwestern Ohio Savings - Blair Realty 232 Superior Street July 23, 1929 2nd Alarm and specials $150,000 loss
Toledo Grain and Milling Harrison and Mill July 28, 1929 2nd Alarm and special call $191,673 loss
Northgate Manor 711 Locust April 22, 1930 [no data available] $83,000 loss
American Railway Express Co. 211 5. St. Clair St. May 17, 1930 3rd Alarm and specials $22,395 loss
Union Station Morris and Williams June 10, 1930 2nd Alarm - special for 4 pumpers $300,000 loss
Brown Transportation Co. 624 Brown Ave. July 21, 1930 2nd Alarm $52,551 loss
Alemite Garage 524 State Street October 10, 1930 3rd Alarm $52,000 loss
American Wall Paper Co. 622 Jackson March 22, 1931 [no data available] $59,194 loss
National Milling Co. 2221 Front St. May 21, 1931 3rd Alarm $332,120 loss
Western Auto 231 Superior June 28, 1932 3rd Alarm $60,000 loss
Temple Theater 225 St. Clair St. February 10, 1933 3rd Alarm $112,000 loss
Kelsey and Freeman Lumber Company 1225 Indiana Ave. May 2, 1937 4th Alarm $118,455 loss
First Westminster Presbyterian Church Orange and Huron July 15, 1937 3rd Alarm $60,000 loss
Holy Rosary Parish 2545 York St. January 28, 1938 2nd Alarm and specials $83,000 loss
Lanes Cut Rate Clothing & A & P Store 502 Summit Street May 5, 1938 3rd Alarm and specials - 5 story brick commercial $130,000 loss
Walbridge Park Concessions Broadway October 26, 1938 3rd Alarm Loss undetermined
Willys Overland Motors Inc. Central Ave. September 8, 1938 4th Alarm - 14 brick buildings $94,000 loss
Doehler Die Casting Co. 2100 Smead July 4, 1939 2nd Alarm $197,824 loss
Home Furniture Co. Jackson and Water June 2, 1940 2nd Alarm and specials $36,370 loss
St. Vincent Hospital 2213 Cherry St. July 16, 1940 3rd Alarm Loss undetermined
D.J. Marleau Hardware 3602 N. Detroit February 8, 1940 3rd Alarm $50,000 loss
National Terminal and other buildings 110 Ottawa June 6, 1941 2nd Alarm and specials $150,000 loss
Tugboat - William A. Whitney Front Street September 26, 1942 Twelve crew members burned $110,000 loss
2 story frame duplex 1005-1007 W. Woodruff February 17, 1943 2nd Alarm Fireman Howard Ripple burned to death in the attic.
Michigan Bean Co. 1310 Elm Street October 11, 1943 2nd Alarm and specials $190,000 loss
Colony Business Block 2100 W. Central Ave January 12, 1944 3rd Alarm and specials - Fireman James Fakehany lost his life in the basement. Fire started in basement near bowling alleys.   $500,000 loss
Fiske Refinery Oakdale September 27, 1943 2nd Alarm and specials $350,000 loss
Harry’s Auto Store 444 Summit St at Jackson January 20, 1944 4th Alarm and specials - 5 story accessory building damaged. $242,740 loss
[no data available] 915 Indiana January 30, 1945 Five children of Mrs. Henriette Johnson burned to death. Heating stove exploded. [no data available]
D.J. Marleau Hardware 3516 N. Detroit August 4, 1945 3rd Alarm $75,000 loss
St. Vincent de Paul 114 Huron St. October 15, 1945 3rd Alarm and specials Loss undetermined
Goodwill Industries 627 Huron Street April 12, 1946 3rd Alarm and specials $100,000 loss
Roanoke Hotel and United Moving and Storage Co. 712 Superior November 13, 1947 3rd Alarm and specials Loss undetermined
Page Dairy Co. 301 Wade March 8, 1948 27 persons hospitalized and two men died when an ammonia drum was exploded by a welding torch blowing a 20’ by 40’ hole through the wall. $150,000 loss
Commercial Metal Treating Co. 1608 Tracy December 5, 1948 2nd Alarm and specials $235,000 loss
Loyal Order Moose 802 Cherry May 2, 1949 3rd Alarm Loss undetermined
615 Adams Business block August 26, 1949 [no data available] $67,038 loss
Collingwood Presbyterian Church 2108 Collingwood January 8, 1950 2nd Alarm $71,000 loss
Precter Electric Co. [no data available] January 26, 1950 [no data available] $100,000 loss
Swan Creek Lumber Co. [no data available] March 18, 1950 3rd Alarm and specials $350,000 loss
Modern Furniture Co. Summit Street June 12, 1950 3rd Alarm $158,000 loss
St. Paul’s Epicopal Church 4th and Euclid March 13, 1951 3rd Alarm Unable to determine
Banana Distributing Warehouse 347 S. Erie St. April 15, 1951 2nd Alarm and Specials $50,000 loss
Spring School Stickney and Spring June 5, 1951 $140,000 loss 3rd Alarm
Ohio Tool Co. 1730 Norwood February 1, 1952 2nd Alarm and Specials $220,000 loss
Hettrick Manufacturing Co. 1401 Summit Street February 12, 1952 2nd Alarm $68,000 loss
Lucas County lumber Co. 2216 Consaul Street September 1, 1952 3rd Alarm and specials $369,000 loss
Buckeye News Co. 2021 Adams November 13, 1952 3rd Alarm and specials $165,000 loss
O&M Seed 800 Mill Street - December 17, 1952 3rd Alarm and specials   $116,000 loss
Recreation Bowling Alleys 929 Phillips January 8, 1953 3rd Alarm Loss undetermined
Moore Ford Sales Co. 2929 Monroe Street November 10, 1955 2nd Alarm and specials $200,000 loss
Horn Hardware 1222 Broadway January 2, 1956 2nd Alarm and 4 specials $125,000 loss
Hy-Grade Meat Co. 21 Superior Street February 13, 1956 2nd Alarm - An explosion leveled buildings at 17, 19,15,13,23, and 25 Superior Street. 3 men killed No fire loss
Olimphia Bowling Alley - - March 29, 1956 2nd Alarm $300,000 loss
Leader Department Store 1025 Sylvania Ave. January 25, 1958 3rd Alarm and specials $106,000 loss
Feaks Restaurant 235 Superior April 5, 1958 2nd Alarm and 2 specials $141,000 loss
South Side Lumber Co. 1307 Prouty Ave. September 7, 1958 2nd and Specials $107,000 loss
Epworth Methodist Church 545 W. Delaware September 7, 1958 3rd and specials $268,353 loss
S. S. Distributers 1100 W. Central September 20, 1958 3rd and specials - Ken Williams killed $158,000 loss
Continental Grain Co. 2404 Summit Street May 16, 1959 2nd Alarm and 3 specials $187,000 loss
Bendix Steel Drum 1044 Hanson St. August 3, 1959 2nd and 3 specials $352,164 loss
Lagrange Builder Supply 29 Lucas Street January 26, 1961 2nd Alarm and specials $250,000 loss
St. Clair School 631 St. Clair July 8, 1961 3rd Alarm and specials $51,000 loss
Wachter Shoe Co. 428 Summit St. January 28, 1961 3rd Alarm $80,000 loss
Anthony Wayne Trail Fire- Gasoline Truck Vinton and A.W.T. June 10, 1961 4 firemen killed - 3rd Alarm $50,000 loss
Maumee Chemical Co. # 2 Oak May 10, 1962 3rd Alarm - 12 Civilians killed $772,000 los
Toledo Sports Center 1516 Starr February 9, 1963 2nd Alarm and 4 specials $500,000 loss
Overmeyer Warehouse and others 2131 Smead June 23, 1964 4th Alarm and specials $375,000 loss
W. T. Grant Co. 3010 Monroe Street April 7, 1964 3rd Alarm and specials $410,000 loss
Norfolk and Western R. R. Shops Fremont and Creston January 1, 1966 2nd Alarm and 5 specials $100,000 loss
Heating Trades Bldg. 1714 N. 12th Street May 28, 1966 3rd Alarm and 3 specials $381,000 loss
Foodtown Super Market 3911 Secor January 17, 1967 2nd Alarm and specials $259,000 loss
American Door and Sash Co. 901 Hoag September 12, 1967 3rd Alarm and 1 special $147,000 loss
BohI Equipment Co. 1020 Laskey Road December 5, 1967 3rd Alarm $229,000 loss
Westgate Shopping Center 3301 W. Central May 9, 1968 3rd Alarm $765,845 loss
Cricket West Shopping Center 3151 W. Central December 5, 1970 3rd Alarm $400,000 loss
Holly-House Apartments 410 Alexis - April 1, 1971 2nd Alarm and 2 specials  $229,506.96 loss
Joseph’s Super Market 2460 Cherry Street July 9, 1971 2nd and 1 special $348,414.39 loss
Elm Storage 2631 Harleau February 18, 1972 3rd Alarm and 5 specials $543,391.00 loss
Hagerty Bowling Lanes 1121 Jackson June 12, 1972 3rd Alarm and specials $646,500 loss
Port Lawrence Bldg. 206 Michigan June 14, 1972 2nd Alarm and specials $301,000 loss
Vroman Foods Inc. 4117 Fitch July 4, 1972 2nd Alarm $342,000 loss
Vinlast Corporation 2077-2135 Smead May 14, 1973 3rd Alarm and 4 specials $1,280,000 loss
Mancy Restaurant 937 Phillips August 14, 1973 2nd Alarm and 4 specials $500,000 loss
Interlake Steel Co. 2401 Front December 23, 1974 2 dead and 10 injured $900,000 loss
Paul Minor Floral Supply 1301-09 W. Bancroft April 7, 1974 2nd Alarm $204,859 loss
Starr Lumber Co. 1701-15 Starr - October 23, 1974 3rd Alarm and specials  $117,340 loss
Same fire - Nordman Roofing Co. [no data available] [no data available] [no data available] $39,673 loss
Kent Branch Library 3026 Collingwood December 1, 1974 3rd Alarm and specials $548,484 loss
Apex Bolt and Machine Co. 1007 Front April 24, 1975 2nd Alarm and specials $103,100 loss
Sacred Heart Church 509 Oswald May 18, 1975 2nd Alarm and specials $350,000 loss
Wayne Lumber Co. 202 Canal June 18, 1975 3rd Alarm $220,000 loss
Barrett Shoe Company/ Main Restaurant 133-35 Main Street June 26, 1975 2nd Alarm and specials $155,200 loss
Bismac International, Inc. 1011 Utica September 4, 1975 3rd Alarm $417,000 loss
Lucas County Lumber Co. 2216 Counsaul St. June 9, 1976 3rd Alarm and specials $265,000 loss