originally appeared in FIREHOUSE MAGAZINE November 1984.

A spectacular five-alarm fire raged through an industrial complex in Hamtramck, Michigan, on August 6, 1984, causing $9 million in damages. The size of the structure, severe water problems and the hazardous and flammable contents of the building forced firefighters to withdraw from defensive positions after the fire grew completely out of control. The blaze destroyed over 100 classic cars stored in the complex.

The Hamtramck Fire Department is comprised of 39 career firefighters who protect 21,000 people in a two-square-mile area from one central station. During 1983 the department responded to 2100 alarms, 1600 of which were EMS calls.

At 7:14 A.M. on Monday, August 6, Hamtramck Fire Headquarters received a phone alarm for a fire in the large warehouse at 3001 Miller. The fire was discovered by an employee arriving for work in the building.

The four-story, heavy timber complex was built in the early 1900s. Irregularly shaped, the building measured 1100 feet long and 700 feet wide. It consisted of two separate structures attached by a brick passageway between the third floors, enabling vehicles to be driven from one building to the other.

Inside the structure were several commercial occupancies, one of which con- tained large tanks of aqueous and anhydrous ammonia plus many small cylinders of the same gas. More than 100 classic cars were also kept in the buildings,including Bentleys, Rolls Royces, Studebakers and elaborate, restored cars over 50 years old. Machinery, chemicals and props for commercials were stored in the warehouse as well.

Engine 4, Quad 2 and Rescue I responded on the first alarm with a total of seven firefighters. Recalls firefighter Sam Solomon: "As soon as we left the firehouse we could see the smoke. When we arrived all we could see was thick black smoke coming from an area that was inaccessible to us. We used two ladders to get on a small flat roof and stretched a 2 1/2-inch line up there." The lieutenant called for mutual aid and for all off-duty firefighters.

The fire had started in the northwest corner of the structure. The first hoseline was directed at the visible fire, but firefighters couldn't tell how far back the flames were extending. Notes Solomon:

"We had the 2 1/2 going, and the water was basically evaporating before it was doing anything." Minutes later Highland Park firefighters joined the Hamtramck firefighters and stretched an additional line to the roof. Explains Solomon: "I don't think we were up there for 20 minutes when it really started to look ugly. From where our ladder was located, we weren't sure we could get back to it."

Continues Solomon: "A few minutes after we arrived the explosions started. They said you could feel them two to three miles away, so you know how we felt. It got to the point where we couldn't see each other on the roof because of the smoke. After each explosion we were ducking shrapnel, which was falling everywhere. We called for anothex ladder and that's when Detroit arrived."

Recalls Detroit firefighter Glenn Morris of Ladder l6: "We arrived, set up for ladder pipe operations "We arrived, set up for ladder pipe operations and waited for water. We didn't get water right away and that's when the barrels started to blow. The tillerman and I threw up a 20-foot ladder to get the guys off the roof. We got them down and it got so bad we couldn't retrieve the ladder. The explosions ripped out sides of the buildings, blew out windows and scattered debris everywhere. "Now my truck was in danger," explains Morris. "The aerial was up, and I was positioned real close to the building. I raised the jacks six inches to clear the ground and I moved the rig with the aerial still up in the air. For a moment there, it was now or never!"

Continued...

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