In the early days of Great Plains settlement, fire was a threat. Driven by the wind, it could sweep across grasslands and crops.It might be started by lightning or human error. Fires deliberately set to burn off vegetation could get out of control.
The threat extended to settlements. With wooden buildings close together, fire could destroy a large city as easily as it could destroy a small town.In 1893 a fire roared through Fargo.
The fire quickly spread from the Little Gem Restaurant to nearby buildings. When the fire reached a gun shop, gun powder and cartridges exploded. Strong winds fanned the flames.
The Fargo Argus newspaper noted, “Hell itself could not have presented a more terrible picture.” By the time the fire was extinguished, there was little left but ashes. Ninety-fivepercent of the city was gone.
Recent Comments