Updated December 2022 with content from archive blog postings, replacing links to pages no longer available.

Back in 2009, we published a series of blog postings, listing vintage fire cause reports from around North Carolina from the late 1940s through the late 1950s, as (a.) reported to the State Insurance Commissioner’s office, (b.) compiled by the North Carolina State Firemen’s Association Statistician, and (c.) printed in the annual conference proceedings. They’re reprinted below. Or read his complete reports.

Part I – March 2009

For your Friday reading, the following are the causes or probable causes of “peculiar or special loss” fires from around North Carolina in the late 1940s. These are quotes from fire chiefs, reported to the State Insurance Commissioner’s office, compiled by the previously mentioned state firemen’s association Statistician, and excerpted from conference proceedings:

• Painter burning paint off of house, set house on fire.
• Attendant in wash pit, presumably smoking while washing car, set car on fire.
• House set on fire by occupant using wooden fire poker.
    
• Spark from passing train into load of cotton.
• City bus hauling gasoline in open can.
• Belt jumped pulley, friction set fire to building.
   
• Fire originated in a box of children’s toys.
• The loss, $5,263, is the estimated damage caused by burning gasoline flowing in gutters from the Sir Walter Hotel garage, the garage was not damaged, the $5,263 applying to cars parked in the street. [ Raleigh, 1947 ]
• Person in show room of garage struck match to light cigarette. Set bucket of gasoline on fire.
   
• Sun reflecting on glass vase caused paper to catch on fire. Damage to building $400, contents $100.
• Cemetery fire, no further information available. [ Reported directly to statistician. ]
• Sun reflecting on auto mirror set fire to car, $1,000. Better look out, fellows! You can see things are hot here on Carolina Beach.
   
• Insane person set fire to house.
• Short in light fixture, penny behind fuse in apartments, loss $900.
• Chemicals in satchel used in giving permanents, loss $653.
   
• Corn shucks scattered around feed mill, loss $6,615.
• Glue pot left on too long, water damage $5,760.
• It is rumored that Boots Shays came home drunk and kicked the stove down. The fire occurred shortly. The local police had him up for questioning two times but could not get proof.
   
• Electric hair dryer caught on fire, “Wonder what happened to the woman’s hair?”
• Burning spider with cigarette, loss $275.
• Dropped acetylene torch on greasy floor, loss $4,000.
   
• Spark from machine caused dust floor fire, loss $1,600.
• Laundry fire, loss $56,500. Employee poured solvent in drain and later threw a match into the drawn.
• Smoking while fumigating for rats and insects caused explosion, damage $400.
   
• Smoking, while unloading gasoline, damage $120.
• Using torch near open gas, damage $600. “What could you call it but gross carelessness?”
• Wax fumes, spontaneous combustion, $94,900 damage.
     
• Malicious incendiarism. During a fit of anger threw oil lamp against wall which set fire to building, damage $1,276.
• Repairing gas line, lit cigarette, it cost $25 for one puff.
• Spotlight in department store window shining on fabric, damage $15,863.67.
     
• Hoboes built fire under bridge, damage $800.
• Fire in theater projection booth, damage $1,200.
• Hauling lighted warning torches on truck with barrel of gasoline, damage $300.
     
• Believe it or not a fire station fire. Durham fire station, the fire originated in small penthouse and extended under floor into attic space. [ The statistician adds, “my town of New Bern also had one of these a few years back.” ]

Continue reading ‘Cigarette Carried to Attic By Pigeon and Other Unusual Fire Causes’ »