September 7 1957
A day to remember...
September 7, 1957 Saturday, shortly after noon sparks from a train engine may have started a fire in the brush near the Spokane River. The wind quickly drove the fire to the Paper Mill log yard along the river.
The Paper Mill whistle blew loudly and mill employees jumped into action to contain the blaze. Hundreds of neighbors, professional and volunteer fire fighters along with 250 airmen from Fairchild Air Force Base battled the Millwood blazes. Regional Fire Departments, Sheriff’s Department, State Patrol, and Civil Defense workers assisted in combating the fires and controlling traffic.
Big log piles were burning, black smoke rising, railroad rails bending like pretzels, with the hot fire. The firefighters battled for 24 hours and did keep it away from the mill.
Women volunteers moved into the worst areas to carry drinks to the fire fighters. Millwood residents and The Salvation Army furnished coffee and food to weary firefighters at the Masonic Hall. No one was injured with this fire. The wind-whipped fire drew hundreds of onlookers and automobiles, on both sides of the river.
Nearly 8.5 million board feet of logs burned, about ¼ of the log pile.
The Paper Mill whistle blew loudly and mill employees jumped into action to contain the blaze. Hundreds of neighbors, professional and volunteer fire fighters along with 250 airmen from Fairchild Air Force Base battled the Millwood blazes. Regional Fire Departments, Sheriff’s Department, State Patrol, and Civil Defense workers assisted in combating the fires and controlling traffic.
Big log piles were burning, black smoke rising, railroad rails bending like pretzels, with the hot fire. The firefighters battled for 24 hours and did keep it away from the mill.
Women volunteers moved into the worst areas to carry drinks to the fire fighters. Millwood residents and The Salvation Army furnished coffee and food to weary firefighters at the Masonic Hall. No one was injured with this fire. The wind-whipped fire drew hundreds of onlookers and automobiles, on both sides of the river.
Nearly 8.5 million board feet of logs burned, about ¼ of the log pile.
Spokane Daily Chronicle Sept. 7, 1957
Recollections of the Paper Mill fire....
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Betty White Leinweber
I’m writing this on March 25- 2023, 66 years later, and still can feel how very exciting the fire was for me. Background: We lived at 3508 Dale in Millwood, directly to the west and 2 long blocks from the Millwood Paper Mill. Our street was on a slightly higher elevation than the mill so we had a pretty unobstructed view of the plant. We lived close enough that my Dad, who was the foreman of the beater room, would daily walk home for lunch. We were also across the street from the Spokane River and could on occasion see what color paper was being produced when a plume of color flowed down the river as the mill emptied its tanks. (That was before river quality standards were in place.) We were also close enough to get the daily deposit of crunchy soot particles on our driveway and patio. Every day at noon the mill whistle would blow one blast to signal lunchtime. It blew again at 4:00 at the end of the day shift. But occasionally it would blow three long and several short blasts announcing a fire. The fire: This particular day was a warmish and windy September Saturday. The mill whistle blew the fire warning. We always paid attention to the fire whistle but this time we heard it not only once but several times. That REALLY got our attention. Soon we realized that the mill logs were on fire! The log piles were much higher than a person was tall and extended for a good distance along the riverbank behind the mill so this was no small fire. At almost 15 I was old enough to go by myself to get a close-up look view of the excitement. I walked the 5 blocks to Argonne and Dalton and saw all the fire departments, people serving food and drinks, onlookers, and traffic filling the town as the smoke from the fire rose behind the mill across the street from me. The town was bursting with people. To my teen age eyes it was very exciting!! Throughout the rest of the day we were focused on the fire. Our neighbor, Bill McCullough, had a boat moored to a dock on the river across the street from our house. He took his son and daughter, Jerry and Colby, my brother Jim and myself in the boat up the river to see the flames. We drove under the Argonne bridge and could see the flames shooting up and feel the intense heat. We had planned to follow the river past the burning logs to Plantes Ferry, turn around and head back to the dock, but the heat was so intense we had to almost immediately turn around and come back. Either that night or the next the fire whistle woke us up. We looked out the window and in the dark saw the glow of the fire which was still raging and lighting up the night sky. I don’t know to this day whether that signal was for more help needed at the mill or for another fire somewhere in Millwood. I was told that fire smoldered for weeks before it was totally extinguished. Betty White Leinweber March 25- 2023 |
Marc Richert
I was around 8 years old at the time and did not realize what transpired that afternoon and later evening regarding the fire that occurred at the Millwood paper mill and surrounding stacks of logs. A fire originated by a spark from a steam engine or other railroad yard equipment and lasted well into the evening hours, destroying several months supply of logs awaiting processing. A vast amount of logs were stacked along the south side of the river bank and extended eastward for a considerable distance; reports estimated a 2 to 3 month supply of logs were stored along paper mill property. I remember going with my father in the car heading east on Upriver Drive later that evening and surveying what had happened. The emergency whistle at the Mill alerted the Community to an impending disaster so naturally nearly everyone wanted to learn of the circumstances. My father and I drove to a point on the north bank of the Spokane River about where the Centennial Trailhead and bicycle bridge now converge (east of Plante’s Ferry and down river from the rock outcroppings) and walked in a short distance to see first-hand the burning mass of logs . This was obviously no small pile of logs and the fire was fully engulfed from this point all the way along the south bank toward the Mill. Fortunately the Mill, private homes and businesses were spared thanks to emergency response personnel. The monetary loss of a valuable commercial resource was estimated to be hundreds of thousands of dollars for the time period. Thankfully, not anywhere as devastating as the 1889 Spokane fire but just as every bit a ”day to remember” in the experience of many Millwood residents. If you have memories of the Millwood fire, pictures or other information you are invited to contact Millwood History Enthusiasts. We like to hear from the Community. Marc Richert Millwood History Enthusiasts Corner Door Cafe February, 2014 |
Linda Larson Baer
It was my first formal birthday party that I remember while I was growing up. On Saturday, September 7, 1957, I had happily invited a few friends and my sisters to celebrate. My dad had built a large fiberglass wading pool for my sisters, Julie, Becky, Elizabeth and me and placed it in our backyard on Liberty. He had the great idea of stocking the pool with real trout so we could go fishing as one of the party activities. We were having a great time. Anne Pierce Aslin, wearing her new felt skirt, fell in the pool. She still says I pushed her but I don’t think so.
Shortly after noon while we were enjoying ourselves, we suddenly heard the paper mill whistle. The paper mill was a central part of Millwood. Many people in the neighborhood worked there. My grandfather, Chester A. Buckland had recently retired as president of IEP and my father was the current plant engineer. This was the major way the community knew what time it was since the whistle would blow at 7:00 AM, noon, 12:45 Pm and 4:00 PM. But this whistle wasn’t blowing at the scheduled time. Soon it became evident that the whistle was to alert the community that a major fire was going on at the paper mill. Dad left immediately to help fight the blaze. We didn’t see him for the rest of the day.
So my memories of my birthday party were mostly of worry about what was happening, were people OK, and when would the fire be out. I was mostly worried about if Dad was OK.
Linda Larson Baer
It was my first formal birthday party that I remember while I was growing up. On Saturday, September 7, 1957, I had happily invited a few friends and my sisters to celebrate. My dad had built a large fiberglass wading pool for my sisters, Julie, Becky, Elizabeth and me and placed it in our backyard on Liberty. He had the great idea of stocking the pool with real trout so we could go fishing as one of the party activities. We were having a great time. Anne Pierce Aslin, wearing her new felt skirt, fell in the pool. She still says I pushed her but I don’t think so.
Shortly after noon while we were enjoying ourselves, we suddenly heard the paper mill whistle. The paper mill was a central part of Millwood. Many people in the neighborhood worked there. My grandfather, Chester A. Buckland had recently retired as president of IEP and my father was the current plant engineer. This was the major way the community knew what time it was since the whistle would blow at 7:00 AM, noon, 12:45 Pm and 4:00 PM. But this whistle wasn’t blowing at the scheduled time. Soon it became evident that the whistle was to alert the community that a major fire was going on at the paper mill. Dad left immediately to help fight the blaze. We didn’t see him for the rest of the day.
So my memories of my birthday party were mostly of worry about what was happening, were people OK, and when would the fire be out. I was mostly worried about if Dad was OK.
Linda Larson Baer
Barb Bennett
As for personal memories... as a kid, IT was exciting! All the commotion, crowds of neighbors watching and fighting the fire, and our "favorite playground" on fire. The heat was intense and the firefighters kept wanting everyone to stay back. I know all the adults were worried and upset. Many of our neighbors and my uncle worked at the mill. So it was very personal for them. The bank was very brushy and treed at that time so there was concern that the fire would spread to nearby homes as well as West to the mill itself. My Dad got off work at 1:00 and was involved with fighting the fire at the warehouse on Empire.
Barb Bennett
As for personal memories... as a kid, IT was exciting! All the commotion, crowds of neighbors watching and fighting the fire, and our "favorite playground" on fire. The heat was intense and the firefighters kept wanting everyone to stay back. I know all the adults were worried and upset. Many of our neighbors and my uncle worked at the mill. So it was very personal for them. The bank was very brushy and treed at that time so there was concern that the fire would spread to nearby homes as well as West to the mill itself. My Dad got off work at 1:00 and was involved with fighting the fire at the warehouse on Empire.
Barb Bennett
Barbara Green St.Clair
I remember the frantic sound of the mill whistle as it soared up and down its tonal range. Off duty employees living in our neighborhood north of Liberty were soon running toward the mill. Later that afternoon Mom (Jean [Buckland] Green) took Sally and me to help out at the Masonic hall where sandwiches and beverages were prepared for the fire fighters. We worked way past my ten-year-old bedtime. I remember standing bleary-eyed, as the night seemed to never end.
Barbara (Green) St.Clair November 13, 2012
I remember the frantic sound of the mill whistle as it soared up and down its tonal range. Off duty employees living in our neighborhood north of Liberty were soon running toward the mill. Later that afternoon Mom (Jean [Buckland] Green) took Sally and me to help out at the Masonic hall where sandwiches and beverages were prepared for the fire fighters. We worked way past my ten-year-old bedtime. I remember standing bleary-eyed, as the night seemed to never end.
Barbara (Green) St.Clair November 13, 2012
Sally Green
I remember being at the Dishman theater with Nikki, Susan and Jeff Batson that Saturday. After we were picked up I worked at the Masonic hall serving sandwiches to the firefighters on their breaks. My mom, Jean Green, had to pull me away from a table when one of the guys, probably one of those young airmen, got a bit fresh.
Sally Green (Age 14 in Sept, 1957) November 14, 2012
I remember being at the Dishman theater with Nikki, Susan and Jeff Batson that Saturday. After we were picked up I worked at the Masonic hall serving sandwiches to the firefighters on their breaks. My mom, Jean Green, had to pull me away from a table when one of the guys, probably one of those young airmen, got a bit fresh.
Sally Green (Age 14 in Sept, 1957) November 14, 2012
Jim Anderson
Saturday at approximately 12:15pm, someone noticed a fire down near the railroad tracks near the log piles. The paper mill received the fire call about 4 minutes later.
This was a hot – windy summer day and I lived at E. 9014 Frederick, a couple of blocks from the paper mill. [My sister, Virginia Anderson’s birthday was on Sunday, Sept. 8 and she invited several friends to a small party on Saturday.] We were [in the back yard] celebrating my sister’s 20th Birthday when the paper mill whistle started blowing to alert the mill employee’s and firemen of a fire. The code, 3 long blasts and 3 – short blasts repeated several times.
I had been attending some recent fire drills so I ran inside to check the fire whistle code. The whistle did not blow on Saturdays unless there was a fire call.
Living a couple of blocks from the paper mill, I hurried towards the mill to see what I could see. I saw lots of smoke and fire in the log piles and people running to help. I helped extend and man hose lines for several hours till dinnertime.
As the fire was spreading, more fire departments were called to help. Valley Fire Department, Spokane Fire Department, Fairchild Air Force, Civil Defense, U.S. Naval Supply Air Station, Naval Supply at Industrial Park. An estimated 15 fire trucks responded and an estimate of 1000 people helped extend hose lines, turned on fire hydrants and brought food and water to those that needed. I think most of Millwood’s Residents were there helping.
A couple of hours later and approx 2:00pm, the mill whistle started blowing again for another fire at the old apple warehouse on Empire, a couple blocks east of Argonne. Several trucks were sent there to fight that fire. As more reports came in of fire embers blowing across the river to Pasadena Park, crews were sent to extinguish them. Also, paper mill employees were busy setting up sprinklers on top of and close by log piles to try to keep fire off of them.
The fire destroyed approximately 8 million board feet of logs, ¾ mile Railroad track and ties. Logs were Western Hemlock, White Pine, and White Spruce. Estimated loss of $400,000.
The cause of the fire was probably a steam locomotive and extremely hot dry grass near the tracks and log pile. Extremely hot dry weather and high winds spread the fire quickly.
[After the fire, IEP stored the logs differently. They separated them into small piles and they put sprinklers up on top.]
Jim Anderson January 30, 2013 [Includes information from oral discussion of February 6, 2013]
Saturday at approximately 12:15pm, someone noticed a fire down near the railroad tracks near the log piles. The paper mill received the fire call about 4 minutes later.
This was a hot – windy summer day and I lived at E. 9014 Frederick, a couple of blocks from the paper mill. [My sister, Virginia Anderson’s birthday was on Sunday, Sept. 8 and she invited several friends to a small party on Saturday.] We were [in the back yard] celebrating my sister’s 20th Birthday when the paper mill whistle started blowing to alert the mill employee’s and firemen of a fire. The code, 3 long blasts and 3 – short blasts repeated several times.
I had been attending some recent fire drills so I ran inside to check the fire whistle code. The whistle did not blow on Saturdays unless there was a fire call.
Living a couple of blocks from the paper mill, I hurried towards the mill to see what I could see. I saw lots of smoke and fire in the log piles and people running to help. I helped extend and man hose lines for several hours till dinnertime.
As the fire was spreading, more fire departments were called to help. Valley Fire Department, Spokane Fire Department, Fairchild Air Force, Civil Defense, U.S. Naval Supply Air Station, Naval Supply at Industrial Park. An estimated 15 fire trucks responded and an estimate of 1000 people helped extend hose lines, turned on fire hydrants and brought food and water to those that needed. I think most of Millwood’s Residents were there helping.
A couple of hours later and approx 2:00pm, the mill whistle started blowing again for another fire at the old apple warehouse on Empire, a couple blocks east of Argonne. Several trucks were sent there to fight that fire. As more reports came in of fire embers blowing across the river to Pasadena Park, crews were sent to extinguish them. Also, paper mill employees were busy setting up sprinklers on top of and close by log piles to try to keep fire off of them.
The fire destroyed approximately 8 million board feet of logs, ¾ mile Railroad track and ties. Logs were Western Hemlock, White Pine, and White Spruce. Estimated loss of $400,000.
The cause of the fire was probably a steam locomotive and extremely hot dry grass near the tracks and log pile. Extremely hot dry weather and high winds spread the fire quickly.
[After the fire, IEP stored the logs differently. They separated them into small piles and they put sprinklers up on top.]
Jim Anderson January 30, 2013 [Includes information from oral discussion of February 6, 2013]