In Baltimore, Maryland, a small fire in the business district is wind-whipped into an uncontrollable
conflagration that engulfs a large portion of the city by evening. The fire is believed to have been
started by a discarded cigarette in the basement of the Hurst Building. When the blaze finally burned
down after 31 hours, an 80-block area of the downtown area, stretching from the waterfront to
Mount Vernon on Charles Street, had been destroyed. More than 1,500 buildings were completely
leveled, and some 1,000 severely damaged, bringing property loss from the disaster to an estimated
$100 million. Miraculously, no homes or lives were lost, and Baltimore's domed City Hall, built in
1867, was preserved.
The Great Baltimore Fire was the most destructive fire in the United States since the Great
Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed most of the city and caused an estimated $200 million in property
damage.
conflagration that engulfs a large portion of the city by evening. The fire is believed to have been
started by a discarded cigarette in the basement of the Hurst Building. When the blaze finally burned
down after 31 hours, an 80-block area of the downtown area, stretching from the waterfront to
Mount Vernon on Charles Street, had been destroyed. More than 1,500 buildings were completely
leveled, and some 1,000 severely damaged, bringing property loss from the disaster to an estimated
$100 million. Miraculously, no homes or lives were lost, and Baltimore's domed City Hall, built in
1867, was preserved.
The Great Baltimore Fire was the most destructive fire in the United States since the Great
Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed most of the city and caused an estimated $200 million in property
damage.
Sunday Morning, 11 am
On Sunday February 7th, 1904 most of Baltimore was looking forward to a quiet Sunday afternoon.
The firefighters at Engine Co. 15 were preparing for morning inspection at 11 am. However, at 10:48 am they
received an automatic alarm at the John E. Hurst & Company, located between Hopkins Place and Liberty Street
on the south side of German Street (now Redwood). The Salvage Corps responded first, as did Fifth District
Engineer Levin Burkhardt, Engine 15 and Truck 2.
Sunday, 12 noon
As Engine 15 turned up Liberty Street, Captain John Kahl could see smoke coming from the top floor of the Hurst
Building. Captain Kahl did not think he had much of a fire so he went to check the automatic alarm box. The box
indicated that there was fire in the basement. As a result, Captain Kahl had his crew force entry through a glass
door on the German Street side and entered the building with a chemical line and hand line. As the crew was
standing on the stairs to the basement they could see the fire rolling across the ceiling towards the elevator shaft.
It was not long after Captain Kahl entered the building when black smoke rolled down the elevator shaft. An
explosion on the upper floors was powerful enough to blow off the roof, break several windows and also throw
large embers across the street into the broken windows of several neighboring buildings.
Sunday, 6 pm
The fire quickly spread and in minutes the surrounding buildings were ablaze. Chief George Horton, who
responded just after 11:10 am, realized the severity of the fire and summoned almost the entire Baltimore City
Fire Department, including 24 engines and 8 hook & ladders to the scene. At 11:55 am, the Chief requested help
from Washington, DC. The wind was blowing from the southwest driving the fire towards the northeast. The fires
raged toward the Court House and City Hall, consuming everything in its path. At 1:30 pm, the first mutual aid
engines from Washington arrived. It was discovered that their couplings would not fit Baltimore’s fire hydrants, so
they were wrapped with canvas. This reduced their effectiveness and continued to cause problems with the arrival
of other mutual aid companies who came later.
Monday, 12 Midnight
At 5 pm, it was decided to use dynamite as a means of stopping the spread of fire. Tons of explosives were
brought in and operations began on targeted buildings. The first property was that of John Duer & Son on
Charles Street, south of German Street. The building shook but remained standing. Next targeted was the
Schwab Bros. Building, on the southwest corner of Charles and German Streets, with the same results.
Dynamiting did not hinder the spread of fire and, in many instances, merely accelerated the fire’s spreading
elsewhere.
Around 8 pm, the wind changed direction, blowing from the west and driving the fire in a more easterly direction.
Also around this time, engines from Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE began to arrive. Due to fire fighting
operations and more importantly the wind change, the spread northward was halted, stopping just short of City
Hall and the Court House.
Monday, 3 am
After midnight and into the day on February 8th, the wind changed again, blowing from the northwest. It brought in
a cold front and moved the fire east to southeast at around 25 mph. Luckily, this was the last change in the wind
direction for the duration of the fire. About this time, another fire started at the Maryland Institute Association of
Mechanical Arts and grew around Center Market and Water Street, started by fire brands that blew across from
the western part of the City. This fire was well east of the main fire at this point by at least 5 blocks. Later in the
morning, these fires would grow together, increasing the area and intensity of the fire. Also during the early
morning hours, additional engines from Washington and Philadelphia were joined by fire companies from York,
Chester, Harrisburg, and Altoona, PA.
Monday, 6 am
Around 6 am, the fire had reached Pratt and Light Streets. Here a heroic stand was made by mainly mutual aid
engines primarily from Philadelphia. Through their efforts, the buildings and piers along Light Street, south of
Pratt, were saved, thus preventing the fire from reaching Federal Hill and the rest of South Baltimore.
The fire was moving east along Pratt Street toward the Jones Falls. Steam fire engines lined the docks taking
water from the harbor and attempting to save the many piers and wharves that lined Pratt Street. Faced with 25
mph winds in their faces, the firemen bravely tried to stand their ground. They were finally driven from the area
and in some cases the units were trapped by surrounding fire for periods of time. Fortunately all members
reached safety.
Monday, 12 noon
By 8 am, the fight to save the Pratt Street piers was lost as flames spread south and east of Pratt Street. The only
hope of saving East Baltimore was the Jones Falls. Thus a fire department stand was established along the east
side of the Falls. Starting around 11:00 am until 1:30 pm nine engines from New York City, along with two more
engines from Wilmington, were placed along the Jones Falls. A total of 37 steam fire engines took water from the
Falls from Baltimore Street south and established a wall of water to halt the advancing flames.
Although the major part of the conflagration was over by 3 pm, it took weeks for the smoldering fires to finally be
put out.
On Sunday February 7th, 1904 most of Baltimore was looking forward to a quiet Sunday afternoon.
The firefighters at Engine Co. 15 were preparing for morning inspection at 11 am. However, at 10:48 am they
received an automatic alarm at the John E. Hurst & Company, located between Hopkins Place and Liberty Street
on the south side of German Street (now Redwood). The Salvage Corps responded first, as did Fifth District
Engineer Levin Burkhardt, Engine 15 and Truck 2.
Sunday, 12 noon
As Engine 15 turned up Liberty Street, Captain John Kahl could see smoke coming from the top floor of the Hurst
Building. Captain Kahl did not think he had much of a fire so he went to check the automatic alarm box. The box
indicated that there was fire in the basement. As a result, Captain Kahl had his crew force entry through a glass
door on the German Street side and entered the building with a chemical line and hand line. As the crew was
standing on the stairs to the basement they could see the fire rolling across the ceiling towards the elevator shaft.
It was not long after Captain Kahl entered the building when black smoke rolled down the elevator shaft. An
explosion on the upper floors was powerful enough to blow off the roof, break several windows and also throw
large embers across the street into the broken windows of several neighboring buildings.
Sunday, 6 pm
The fire quickly spread and in minutes the surrounding buildings were ablaze. Chief George Horton, who
responded just after 11:10 am, realized the severity of the fire and summoned almost the entire Baltimore City
Fire Department, including 24 engines and 8 hook & ladders to the scene. At 11:55 am, the Chief requested help
from Washington, DC. The wind was blowing from the southwest driving the fire towards the northeast. The fires
raged toward the Court House and City Hall, consuming everything in its path. At 1:30 pm, the first mutual aid
engines from Washington arrived. It was discovered that their couplings would not fit Baltimore’s fire hydrants, so
they were wrapped with canvas. This reduced their effectiveness and continued to cause problems with the arrival
of other mutual aid companies who came later.
Monday, 12 Midnight
At 5 pm, it was decided to use dynamite as a means of stopping the spread of fire. Tons of explosives were
brought in and operations began on targeted buildings. The first property was that of John Duer & Son on
Charles Street, south of German Street. The building shook but remained standing. Next targeted was the
Schwab Bros. Building, on the southwest corner of Charles and German Streets, with the same results.
Dynamiting did not hinder the spread of fire and, in many instances, merely accelerated the fire’s spreading
elsewhere.
Around 8 pm, the wind changed direction, blowing from the west and driving the fire in a more easterly direction.
Also around this time, engines from Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE began to arrive. Due to fire fighting
operations and more importantly the wind change, the spread northward was halted, stopping just short of City
Hall and the Court House.
Monday, 3 am
After midnight and into the day on February 8th, the wind changed again, blowing from the northwest. It brought in
a cold front and moved the fire east to southeast at around 25 mph. Luckily, this was the last change in the wind
direction for the duration of the fire. About this time, another fire started at the Maryland Institute Association of
Mechanical Arts and grew around Center Market and Water Street, started by fire brands that blew across from
the western part of the City. This fire was well east of the main fire at this point by at least 5 blocks. Later in the
morning, these fires would grow together, increasing the area and intensity of the fire. Also during the early
morning hours, additional engines from Washington and Philadelphia were joined by fire companies from York,
Chester, Harrisburg, and Altoona, PA.
Monday, 6 am
Around 6 am, the fire had reached Pratt and Light Streets. Here a heroic stand was made by mainly mutual aid
engines primarily from Philadelphia. Through their efforts, the buildings and piers along Light Street, south of
Pratt, were saved, thus preventing the fire from reaching Federal Hill and the rest of South Baltimore.
The fire was moving east along Pratt Street toward the Jones Falls. Steam fire engines lined the docks taking
water from the harbor and attempting to save the many piers and wharves that lined Pratt Street. Faced with 25
mph winds in their faces, the firemen bravely tried to stand their ground. They were finally driven from the area
and in some cases the units were trapped by surrounding fire for periods of time. Fortunately all members
reached safety.
Monday, 12 noon
By 8 am, the fight to save the Pratt Street piers was lost as flames spread south and east of Pratt Street. The only
hope of saving East Baltimore was the Jones Falls. Thus a fire department stand was established along the east
side of the Falls. Starting around 11:00 am until 1:30 pm nine engines from New York City, along with two more
engines from Wilmington, were placed along the Jones Falls. A total of 37 steam fire engines took water from the
Falls from Baltimore Street south and established a wall of water to halt the advancing flames.
Although the major part of the conflagration was over by 3 pm, it took weeks for the smoldering fires to finally be
put out.
