Flin Flon Fires

FLIN FLON FIRES - by G. B. Reid

After reviewing 50 years of photographic images, I have come up with some very interesting photographs of fires that I have witnessed taking place in the 50 plus years that I have had in this community. I felt it was time that I sat down with two individuals that are certainly not strangers to anyone who has lived in Flin Flon for a period of time. Yes it was time for a fireside chat with two ex-firemen who have served our community and have been part of its success.

Reuben Hagan retired Fire Chief, and Earl Steven who served for over 37 years looked at these photographs and began to talk about the day and the time that these fires occurred. The first set of photos we looked at were the Richmond Hotel fire that took place on July 9, 1959 which is where our present Library is today across from the local Post Office. This fire lasted for a total of 11 hrs. 10 min. It started at 8:35 a.m., and Reuben recalls being summoned from his work place at 3250 North Main underground. In those days our City Fire Dept. and H.B.M.&S. had a hand and glove relationship which was beneficial for everyone. So at that time, fellow firemen Cliff Clarke and Reuben were taken to surface and off to fight the fire. When they got to the scene, the fire had the upper hand and being an old building of frame construction, all they could do was to contain it which they did. When this fire occurred, the department had also gone through a very hard day, the day before on July 8, 1959 as a business up the street known as the Fruit & Produce owned by Steve & Kay Kowalewich caught fire at 4:51 p.m. and experienced the same fate as the Richmond Hotel. The total number of hours put into the Fruit & Produce fire was 25 hrs. 9 min., as the Dept. was called back to address a few hot spots that occurred from the original fire. This location is where the Cash Store operates today, at 76 Main Street. Reuben went onto say that this was a very demanding time on the department as it was long hours for the men, and the equipment was all wet and had not been cleaned adequately when they were forced back into service. These were two fairly large fires that occurred on our Main St. and I think we can be thankful that they were not allowed to expand which would of eliminated a number of small businesses.

RICHMOND HOTEL – July 9, 1959

This shows the Richmond Hotel burning. One story that I heard about the beer parlor in the Richmond, was when they set off a blast in the Open Pit. A large rock landed on the roof, and went through the roof and the floor, and came to rest in the basement. That was back in the good old days when the miners drilled holes, packed them with powder and blew the hell out of everything. This story is a little difficult to confirm, but in one of my discussions with an old time resident, he went on to say that when it came to underground miners and surface blasting, anything could be possible. Whether true or not, it makes a good story.

Today, standing on the site of the Richmond Hotel, is Flon Flon's Centennial Library. The Library was built in 1967.

FLIN FLON HOTEL – June 9, 1962

The Flin Flon Hotel Fire occurred on June 9, 1962, and started at 4:23 a.m. and went to 5:23 p.m... a total of 13 hours. I personally recall this fire, as in 1962, I was building a new home at 73 Norma Ave. This was on a Saturday morning and I had made my way to Beaver Lumber to purchase material to continue with my construction. When I got uptown, I saw all the smoke and commotion; so I rushed home and grabbed my camera and went back uptown. After taking a number of photographs of the fire, I overheard in conversation that there were still people in the hotel. I know this was a great concern to all involved. This was probably one of the more serious fires in our city as two men lost their lives. Dead were Sgt. John Roland Stockwell of Fort Osborne Barracks, Winnipeg, and Wilfred Joseph Rondeau of Cranberry Portage. The body of one man was brought out shortly after the alarm was sounded. He was found within a few feet of an exit; and the the second man was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The night man is said to have found everything in order when he made his rounds of the building shortly before the fire broke out. Pictures taken at the time would indicate the fire broke out in the upper part of the building, which was of frame construction. One man is reported to have found his bed on fire when he awakened. Others got out windows onto the roof of the annex, and one well known northern prospector is reported to have been seen perched on a sign of an adjoining dress shop, clad only in his shorts.

Prior to the Flin Flon Hotel being destroyed in 1962, and the Richmond Hotel in 1959, the Corona Hotel was destroyed by fire also in December, 1955, making a total of three hotel fires in seven years.

The Flin Flon Hotel was the only one that was rebuilt, and rebuilt on the same location. It has been closed down now for a number of years, and remains a vacant structure on our Main St. which is too bad. When I first came here, the old Flin Flon Hotel had a lot of character. They came in the front door for a beer on the way to work on afternoon and graveyard shifts, and returned through the back door from day shift and afternoons. I can recall many older workers coming through the back door at 4 p.m., sitting down, ordering a beer, and then leaving in time to get to the bus depot to make their way home for supper. There was a good reason for closing between 6:30 until 7:30 p.m., or many a chap wouldn’t have made it home for supper. There was always much activity in the Flin Flon Beer Parlor. The Miners drilled and blasted off many a round. The Smelter boys made many tons of copper and I am sure the Zinc Plant and Mill increased their production as well. There were also many veterans who told tall war stories about WW2, and many stories about back on the farm as that is where most of us came from, to work here and make our fortune.

TERRACE SCHOOL – January 15, 1963

The Terrace School Fire was on Jan. 15, 1963. The time that this fire began was 10:55 a.m. which was probably a blessing as most of the kids were free from the structure due to recess. This fire lasted until 7 p.m., a total of 8 hrs. 5 min. I recall this day very well as I had been out on No. 10 highway attempting to get some decent winter photographs. On my return home, I noticed a great plume of smoke coming from the uptown area. You can see fire in one of the photographs that I had taken from the area of the Gas Bar. In the foreground, an old British American Oil sign, which was before British American became Gulf Oil; and today, it is known as Petrocan.

Reuben and Earl both have vivid memories of how cold that day was, and how hot the fire was. Schools that were built in the 40’s & 50’s contained an abundance of high quality fir in their structures, and along with steam heat, these buildings became extremely dry. Also in those days, there were wood floors which were fir as well. These floors, in many cases, were oiled to be preserved and to keep down the dust. There was also a cleaning agent know as Dustbain which was a granulated compound that looked very similar to coffee grounds. This also contained an oily substance which again, added oil to these dry wooden floors. So, it is not hard to see how schools that were built in this era could become a burning inferno in a very short period of time. We were very fortunate that there were no lives lost in this fire. Terrace School was rebuilt on the same location, and renamed Ecole Ruth Betts School which still stands today.

The Royal Hotel Fire occurred on Jan. 27, 1966, from 12:05 p.m. to 11:45 p.m., a total of 11 hrs. 40 min. The photographs of this fire were taken the following day, and one can see from the photographs that this structure was completely gutted. This fire, according to Reuben and Earl, accelerated rather fast as it got started by someone thawing water lines with an open flame torch. The fire got into the wall, and in a very short period of time, the structure was engulfed in flames. Fortunately the Fire Dept. were able to contain the flames behind the brick structure. This hotel has been rebuilt and still operates on Main St. today. It is the only one left, and still operates a hotel with a lounge and VLT’s, and also contains a restaurant and a Florest shop.

ELKS HALL

When I came to Flin Flon in 1957, the Elks Hall was a structure that played a vital role in our community. Many social functions were held there including dances, wedding receptions and banquets. The hall also had a bowling alley and a club room for its members. The hall caught fire on April 7, 1977 at 7:51, and was extinguished at 22:30, lasting 16 hrs., 49 minutes, and fought by the local brigade.

After the fire, the Elks purchased St. Lukes United Church and converted it into the new Elks Hall. The old property which once contained the Elks Hall uptown was purchased by Murray Davidson, long time resident and pharmacist in our community. He was no stranger to any of us, as he was a great friend and a valued member to our community. You can see that the clinic is a much smaller building than the Elks was; it contains the Pharmacy, a number of Doctors offices and a Reception area. This building no longer serves our community as a clinic, just as a pharmacy which is now operated by son, Scott Davidson, as Pharmasave. The new Clinic is contained on the 3rd floor of the Flin Flon General Hospital.

REX THEATRE FIRE – Feb. 29, 1948 by Joyce Henderson

Earl Steven supplied me with this write-up by the late Joyce Henderson.

The Rex Theatre Fire occurred on Feb. 29, 1948 and lasted for 27 hrs. 14 min. and was the most spectacular and costly fire to occur in Flin Flon up to this date. It was located where Warehouse One is today. I would like to quote from an article that was published in the Goldbelt Gazette on Apr. 21, 1993, compiled and published by the late Joyce Henderson (nee Guymer). This is an excellent article, and Joyce over the years has contributed to the Flin Flon Visual History Book and Flin Flon History, as she was a born Flin Flonner being raised and educated here, and had a very good feel for the Flin Flon story. This article covers the story extremely well. It is as follows:

The most spectacular and costly fire to take place in Flin Flon up to 1948 was the burning of the Rex Theatre on February 29, 1948 – Leap Year. The billboard read ‘Sunday midnight, dramatic triumph of the year – “The Long Night”, starring Henry Fonda and Barbara Delgeddes’.

The first Rex Theatre built by Jack M. Wanless in 1929 was located on the site of the Copper Block (approximately 133 Main). In July 1931, an up-to-date sound-on-film talking machine system was installed.

The building of the new Rex Theatre commenced in August 1932, at 123 Main St. and on October 8, the old building closed and the new theatre, specially designed for acoustics, opened on October 10. An advertisement in the Flin Flon Miner assured the audience that “In case of the film fire, which with the modern 1932 equipment is almost impossible, an automatic system closes the positively fire-proof projection booth and an automatic electric ventilator takes care of the smoke of the burning celluloid and provides all possible safety for the audience.

In l933, the sound equipment was improved and in 1934 the old style production lamps were replaced with filtered lights which ensured the patrons of clear bright talking pictures of maximum entertainment. A first for northern Manitoba.

In February 1935, the Rex offered special matinees on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3:00 p.m., Thursday and Saturday at 1:15 p.m. with evening shows each night at 7:00 and 9:20 p.m. On Sunday a special midnight show started at 12:20 a.m. The hits of the month were Cecil B. DeMille’s Cleopatra with Claudette Colbert and ‘Baby Take a Bow’ with Shirley Temple.

At the beginning of March 1944, the Rex Theatre was sold to Garry Peebles of Dauphin and the interior was completely redecorated. At 6:45 p.m. Sunday, February 29, 1948, fire broke out in the Rex Theatre and for a time threatened several Main Street businesses. Over three thousand feet of hose was used and water was poured into the doomed building from every possible angle, both from the street and from the roof, in an effort to prevent the flames from spreading to adjacent buildings. Flames, sparks and smoke poured high into the air in the early stages of the fire.

Sol Nathanson, manager, who resided in a suite in the theatre, had left half an hour before the fire was discovered. When he returned and opened the front door he was met by a blast of flames and smoke. Twenty-two volunteer firemen, directed by Chief Walter Redman, assisted by Mel ‘Slim’ Holdaway of HBMS Fire Department; along with twelve Company men, and eleven helpers recruited from the crowd, battled the flames in sub-zero temperatures for almost four hours before it was said to be under control and the threat to other buildings eliminated. All available fire equipment and hose was used and the fire pump at the pump station (corner of Main and First) was kept on the water lines to maintain pressure for duration of the blaze. Hundreds of citizens jammed Main Street and the lane at the rear of the burning building. At one time goods and personal effects were scattered along Main Street. In the back lane, merchandise removed from Bell’s Hardware was lined along a fence.

Earlier streams of water were played on the north wall of the burning theatre and the adjoining wall of the blaze northward, which could have swept right through to First Avenue. No fire wall intervened in that section.

Care was also taken to prevent the burning of the power poles in front of the building. As it was, an estimated one hundred telephones, mostly in the business district, were out of service for a week.

The day after the fire the theatre was a desolate ice-covered shell, a mute testimony to the raging inferno that gutted the interior of the theatre, the Club News operated by Johnny Meyers, and the exterior of Bell’s Hardware. Damaged as well were North Star Fuel and Ice, the Lunchbox and Arctic Beverage. Firemen were pumping water from the basements of the building in the area. It was estimated that 300,000 gallons of water had been used in four hours to put out the fire.

On March 2 the local fire department was again called to the scene of the Rex Theatre when a blaze was spotted by watchers who were keeping the ruins under close surveillance.

The fire brought a recommendation from the Chamber of Commerce that building permits for Main Street be temporarily held up pending further study of fire regulations and the setting up of additional safeguards against fires in the business against fires in the business section.

E.H. Houston, Assistant Fire Marshall for the Province of Manitoba arrived in Flin Flon on March 4, to conduct an investigation of the fire. He reported that in his opinion the fire had started in the front of the theatre where the chimney passed through the balcony floor. A crack in the brick work of the chimney could have been caused by the settling of the building. The fire apparently had been smoldering since Saturday, the day previous to the outbreak.

Houston also commended the fire fighters for the excellent job they did in preventing the fire from spreading to other buildings. He also stated that the time was long past when a town the size of Flin Flon should be dependent upon a volunteer fire department.

By March 31, the decision was made by Greg Janzer, engineer for Forrest and Phillett Brothers, owners of the Rex franchise, to erect a $100,000 theatre to replace the burned theatre. In four and a half days after the decision was made, the ruins were demolished. It took mine months to rebuild the Rex Theatre and when the doors opened at 6:30 p.m. on December 20, 1948, movie-goers were welcomed by the new manager, Walter Hlady. The movie presented for the gala opening was the musical ‘A Date with Judy’, a MGM picture starring Wallace Beery, Jane Powell, Elizabeth Taylor, Carmen Miranda, Robert Stack and Xavier Cugat and his orchestra.

The building that was once the Rex Theatre was rebuilt. Flin Flon at one time had three movie theaters along with the Big Island Drive-In. The Northland Theatre, located across the street from the Rex Theatre, was demolished and replaced with a street side park. The location of the Rex Theatre is now known as Warehouse One, and offices for tax services and Reality. The third movie theatre was known as the Paragon Theatre, and located on Main St. in Creighton. It has since been converted to a warehouse for Creighton Furniture. The only theatre still operating is the Big Island Drive-In. It is one of the very few Drive-In theaters operating in western Canada today.

Entrance to todays Fire Hall displaying equipment of days gone by.

FLIN FLON'S FIRST FIRE TRUCK

1935 Ford Pumper

The department was officially organized under a town bylaw on July 7, 1937, by which time, the Rotary Club had provided the brigade with a brand new fire truck, fully equipped with a two hundred and fifty gallon per minute Barton front-mounted pump and a carrying capacity of two hundred gallons of water at all times. The truck was housed in Monty's Garage on North Avenue until the “Old Dog House”, Flin Flon's first fire hall, was built. This building was located at the end of Main Street across from the Flin Flon Hotel. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe the Flin Flon ambulance was housed in the same building and operated by Mel's Taxi.

75 YEARS OF FLIN FLON FIRE DEPARTMENT

The following information is taken from a booklet compiled by our local Fire Dept. to honor 60 years of their progress. I received this booklet from Reuben Hagan, and I would like to share with you different inserts throughout this article, as I feel they are vital and important in informing people how our Fire Dept. has developed and grown over a 75 year period. I quote:

Mr. O.O. Klutz served as Fire Chief from the time the municipality was incorporated in 1934 until his death in 1939.

A hand pulled hose cart and a chemical cart were used at fires until 1936 when the Rotary Club presented the municipality with a 1936 Ford pumper as the No. 1 Fire Engine.

Walter Redman was appointed Fire Chief in 1939 and the present Volunteer Fire Department was organized. Most of the men who worked under Otto Klutz stayed on and a few civic minded citizens were recruited to form an efficient department. They conducted a Fire Prevention Campaign that won the First of many certificates in Class D towns in Manitoba. Walter was very active in the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. Walter served as First Vice President of the CAFC in 1959 and was elected President in August 1960.

Fred Livesey took over as Fire Chief when Walter Redman retired in 1961. Fred had been with the department for almost 22 years as a volunteer. Fred retired in 1973 with a total of 34.2 years of service

Don Still served as Deputy Fire Chief under Fred from 1962 and was appointed Fire Chief on August 1, 1973. Don retired on June 3, 1986 with a total of 38.8 years of dedicated service.

Reuben Hagan was hired as Deputy Fire Chief on August 1, 1973 and took over from Don as Fire Chief on June 3, 1986. Reuben retired on April 19, 1991, after serving this department for a total of 35.2 years.

Gordon Donaghy was hired as Deputy Fire Chief, July 15, 1986 and served under Reuben until being appointed Acting Fire Chief on December 10, 1990 while Reuben took an extended vacation to Thailand. Gordon was appointed Fire Chief on April 19, 1991.

Fred Howard was hired as Deputy Fire Chief on December 10, 1990 and resigned on April 26, 1992. Fred now operated The Twilight Motel in Swan River, Man.

Don Trudeau was hired as Deputy Fire Chief September 3, 1992. Don came to this department from Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Plant Protection Services in Pinawa, Man.

In 1983 the need arose for an Assistant Deputy Chief and Earl Steven was the first to fill that position. He was later followed by Jim Christianson. Currently this position is rotated between Earl Steven, Barry Dickens and Mike Dickens as required.

When this department was first formed, the men were paid $1.00 per fire call and $2.00 if water was used.

1950 FORD PUMPER FIRE TRUCK

This truck is capable of pumping 650 gallons per minute.

1963 FORD PUMPER TRUCK

This truck is capable of pumping 750 gallons per minute.

1980 FORD PUMPER

This truck is capable of pumping 1000 gallons per minute.

On January 27, 1981, the Fire Dept. moved to their new home at 96 Hapnot St. (as the old hall would no longer house the present equipment and provide the department with the facilities that they required). This was a very welcome addition to Flin Flon's Emergency Services.

FLIN FLON'S NEWEST PUMPER #20

Capable of pumping 1150 gallons per minute.

CHIEF WALTER REDMAN - 1960

and Volunteer Fireman.

Front Row L-R - Claude Smith, Mike Garuk, Doug Gourlay, Abe Pogue, Fred Livesey, Walter Redman F.C., Cliff Clark, Fred Roy, Bill McFadden, Walter Andres.

Middle Row L-R - Morse Stonehouse, Charlie Jones, Walter Miller, Bruce Smale, Jake Coulthart, Fred Berry, Johnny Doan, Ken Burr, Norman (Spud) McKenzie.

Back Row L-R – Bert Figas, Don McLaren, Al Maloney, Gordon Nohlgren, Don Still, Eddie Stevenson, Charlie Dickens, Duncan Leitch, Don McKee, Archie Deans, Jack Larsson, Reuben Hagan, Allan Chlan.

50TH ANNIVERSARY 1987

Retired Fireman

Front Row L-R - Bob Seidel, Charlie Dickens, Frank Brough, Walter Miller, George Aronic, Fred Livesey, Ken Karr, Jack Larsson.

Middle Row L-R - Vic Pardoski, Bert Figas, Doug Gourlay, Abe Pogue, Eddie Abrahamson, Reuben Hagan, Doug Harris, Don Still, Al Maloney, Gordon McLaren.

Back Row L-R - Bill Broughton, Lyle Martinson, Norm Rudd, Jim Onofriechuk, Don McLaren, Ron Wheeler, Fred Howard, Brian McLaren.

CHIEF DON STILL

Active Fireman – May 1981

Front Row L-R - Mike Trubiak, Earl Steven, Cliff Clarke, Reuben Hagan, Don Still, Jim Finucane, Lawrence Morran, Charlie Jones.

Middle Row L-R - Joe Wilson, Erhart Dzubiak, Don Logan, Tom Davie, Vic Pardoski, Dave Broughton, Barry Dickens, Don Rose, Larry Willerton, Bill Reid.

Back Row L-R - Brian McLaren, Randy McLaren, Wes Mote, Rick Switzer, Jamie Pidluburg, Darrel Graff, Gordon Donaghy, Cavin Ballard, Norm Rudd.

CHIEF REUBEN HAGAN

Active Fireman – July 1987

Front Row L-R - Lawrence Morran, Fred Howard, Barry Dickens, Gordon Donaghy D.F.C., Reuben Hagan F.C., Jim Christianson, Earl Steven, Randy McLaren, Lorne Mosiuk.

Second Row L-R - Larry Willerton, Don Haggarty, Darrel Graff, Ron Mendro, Dave Broughton, Erhart Dzuibak, Joe Wilson, Norm Rudd.

Third Row L-R - Vic Pardoski, Don Rose, Tom Davie, Jim Finucane, Darryl Ward, Don Logan, Ben McMurchy, Al Broughton.

Fourth Row L-R - Brad Davidson, Wes Mote, Rick Switzer, Bill Reid, Al Haggarty, Michael Dickens, Missing – Hugh Devlin.

CHIEF REUBEN HAGAN

Active Fireman – 1991

Front Row L-R – Luc Nivon, Wes Mote, Barry Dickens, Fred Howard, Reuben Hagan F.C., Gordon Donaghy D.C., Earl Steven, Lorne Mosiuk.

Second Row L-R - Robert Jordan, Don Logan, Don Rose, Michael Dickens, Delbert Brown, Dave Broughton, Randy McLaren, Jim Finucane, Rick Switzer, Darrel Graff, Al Broughton, Erhart Dzubiak, Ron Wheeler, Don Haggarty, Hughie Devlin.

Third Row L-R - Tom Davie, Al Haggarty, Robert Penner, Larry Willerton, Wayne Holstrom, Don Murray, Ron Mendro, Brian Mackie.

50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – JULY 1987

Front Row L-R - Bob Woods, Don Still, Fred Livesey, Mike Garuk, Walter Jones, Cliff Clarke, Jack Larsson, Charlie Jones, Mel Woods.

Second Row L-R - Don Kerslake, Elmer Graff, Gordon McLaren, Abe Pogue, Charlie Dickens, Al Mahoney, Spud McKenzie, Mike Trubiak, Doug Gourlay, Archie Campbell.

Third Row L-R - Orville Graham, Jim Onofriechuk, Jeff Beedle, Walter Miller, Tom Leel, George Aronic, Doug Harris, Don Nelson, Vern Derkson.

Four Row L-R - Don McLaren, Don Wickander, Andy Oliphant, Bill Broughton, Walter Pogue, Al Rowe, Walter McKay, Doug Stewart, Cavin Ballard.

Fifth Row L-R - Ken Burr, Bert Figas, Fred Roy, Mike Guiducci, Ed Stevenson, Garnett Cluff, Jake Coulthard, Ken Karr.

VOLUNTEER FIREMAN WITH 25 YEARS SERVICE

Prior July 1987 - 50th Anniversary

Front Row L-R - Don Still, Fred Livesey, Mike Garuk, Walter Jones, Cliff Clarke, Jack Larsson, Charlie Jones.

Second Row L-R - Abe Pogue, Reuben Hagan, Don McLaren, Joe Wilson, Earl Steven, Charlie Dickens, Al Maloney.

FOUR MEMBERS WITH LONG TIME SERVICE

143 Years

The four individuals pictured below have served many years of dedication to protection of property and people in our community.

Front Row - Fred Livesey - 32 years.

Standing L – R - Reuben Hagan – 35 years, Don Still – 39 years, Earl Steven – 37 years.

This is a record that these men can be proud of for their dedication to our community.

A FIREFIGHTER'S PRAYER

When I am called to duty, God,

Wherever flames may rage,

Give me the strength to save some life,

Whatever be its age.

Help me to embrace a little child

Before it is too late.

Or save an older person from the horror of

that fate.

Enable me to be alert

And hear the weakest shout

And quickly and efficiently

To put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling and to give the best

in me,

To guard my every neighbour and protect his

property

And if according to your will

I have to lose my life,

Please bless with your protecting hand,

My children and my husband or my wife.

AMEN.

At this time, I would like to thank Reuben & Earl for taking the time to talk about their past experiences and service with the Flin Flon Fire Department, and also for supplying me with pictures and newspaper clippings of the past. Thanks guys for a job well done.