The Rocky Mountain Arsenal was the scene of many-a-fire over the years and topping the list is a spectacular blaze that seared storage tanks holding deadly chlorine gas on July, 27, 1947.
"We'd have been powerless if those tanks exploded," Denver Fire Chief Allie Feldman told the Associated Press. No injuries were reported.
The Rocky Mountain News reported a locomotive engineer, James Priller, braved the heat and moved eight tank cars laden with chlorine from a siding near the fire. The newspaper called Priller a hero.
The fire started in coal bunkers at a powerhouse near the chlorine tanks. News reporters covering the blaze were told they did so at their own risk.
The sprawling industrial complex was located in Commerce City and manufactured incendiary bombs for World War Two. After the war, a section was leased to the Colorado Fuel and Iron Co. Today, the site is a nature preserve.
Army personnel responded with eight pieces of fire apparatus kept at the arsenal, the News said. Denver sent an initial assignment of two engines and a ladder truck.. Additional Denver rigs followed. South Adams responded, too.
Feldman, Deputy Chief Patrick Boyne and Assistant Chief John Horan led the Denver firefighting force.
Other Rocky Mountain Arsenal blazes:
On Oct. 11, 1951, a gasoline bomb fuse triggered an explosion that injured nine women. Two succumbed to their injures at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Aurora.
On Feb. 28, 1952, fire destroyed a three-story building on the arsenal grounds operated by the Julius Hyman Chemical Company.
On July 20, 1952, a worker died in an explosion on the fourth floor of another building on the arsenal used by the Hyman company.
On Oct. 24, 1953, flames erupted at a building housing the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. The Rocky Mountain News described the blaze as spectacular "with phosphorous bombs shooting hundreds of feet into the air."
On July 4, 1953, appropriately enough, there were more fireworks at yet another Hyman company operation on the arsenal grounds. "Flaming chemicals spurted out of pipes," The Rocky Mountain News said.
On March 17, 1954, fire destroyed a warehouse.
On March 17, 1954, fire destroyed a warehouse.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.