Danbury, CT Fire, Jun 1888
DANBURY SWEPT BY FIRE.
MANY BUILDINGS BURNED CAUSING A LOSS OF $125,000.
DANBURY, Conn., June 18.---Danbury was to-day the scene of one of the most extensive
conflagrations ever known in Connecticut. The total loss is probably $125,000, but it is yet impossible
to obtain accurate figures. Though now under control the fire is still burning, with a possibi lity of
spreading during the night should the wind rise. The local Fire Department is making a most desperate
flight. Several men have been forced to leave the scene from prostration on account of the intense
heat. The fire started shortly after 3 P.M. in the business centre of the town in Armstrong & Co.'s box
shop in Canal-street. In less than an hour 10 or more buildings, besides lumber yards, numerous
outbuildings, and small shops, were enveloped in flames. The field of the fire covers more than 20
acres. So great was the heat that it was impossible for the firemen to get to work until several
buildings were beyond saving. Armstrong & Co's shop was soon in ruins, and for two hours the
situation was rendered more perilous by low pressure on the hydrants. The flames spread to R. A.
Belden & Co.'s machine shop, a long, three -story structure, communicating to J. T. Bates's lumber
yards, on the opposite side of Canal-street. These yards were filled with lumber, which was entirely
burned. The fire also attacked Meeker's grain, was quickly consumed. An adjoining building known as
the sewing machine shop next fell. Then Osborne's lumber yards and coal sheds, Chichester's barn
and several smaller buildings were swept by the flames and in nearly all cases completely destroyed.
The fire crept along the track of the Housatonic Railroad and burned the ties for a quarter of a mile,
also the station, and the freight sheds of both the New-England and Housatonic Roads narrowly
escaped. The wires of the Western Union Telegra ph Company were burned out. The origin of the fire is
unknown.
The New York Times, New York, NY 19 Jun 1888
Danbury, CT Warner House Fire, Oct 1889
A VICTIM OF FIREBUGS.
DANBURY, Conn., Oct. 22.---Firebugs are again at work here. On Sunday evening they bu rned the
nearly completed residence of David Warren. Since the fire Mr. Warren has not been seen or heard of,
and his friends believe that he was burned in the building.
The New York Times, New York, NY 23 Oct 1889
Danbury, CT Fires, Dec 1890
FIRE BUGS IN DANBURY.
TWO BIG CONFLAGRATIONS STARTED IN ONE NIGHT.
DANBURY, Conn., Dec. 21.----A fire bug got in some effective work here Saturday night and Sunday
morning, kindling two extensive fires. The first destroyed the lumber yard of Osborne Brothers at
White and Canal Streets and six loaded freight cars on a siding of the Housatonic Road adjoining, and
partly destroyed the Housatonic freight house. Osborne Brothers lose $26,000 and the Housatonic
Railway Company about $10,000.
The second fire occurred at 2 o'clock this morning and totally destroyed the large box factory of Green
& Beebe, a two-story double house with three barns adjoining belonging to George Barnum, the
foundry and half of the machine shop belonging to C. H. Reid, all on Maple Avenue. The alarm was
sounded while the firemen were still at work on the ruins of the first fire, which was about 500 feet
distant. Both fires were in what is called the "Fire -bug District." The flames were started with the oily
waste material that had been used in kindling all of the incendiary fires occurring during the past three
years. The oil saturated waste was used abundantly between the barns and the box shop, and several
of those first at the fire obtained handfuls of the stuff. Before the hose and steamers could be
transferred from the first fire, the last one had gained great headway, and the firemen could only
direct their efforts to the saving of clustered in the locality. In two hours the property was destroyed.
The losses are as follows: Green & Beebe, $15,000; C. H. Reid, $8,000; George Barnum, on house,
$5,000, on barns and contents, $5,000. The total loss from the two fires will reach $70,000, on which
the insurance is about $50,000. Shortly after the first blaze Officer Drumm arrested Fritz Real on
suspicion. Real is known as an anarchist and some chemicals were found at his house. He is well
educated, and is considered a little crazy. The excitement in the city has been intense all day. Crowds
have visited the ruins. Should the incendiary be caught at his work, he would have been increased and
patrolmen and watchmen are thickly scattered throughout the infested district.
The New York Times, New York, NY 22 Dec 1890