History
The Eureka Springs Fire Department has a long and exciting history. Established in 1883, ESFD has grown from a volunteer fire department to a progressive combination department providing fire, rescue, and EMS services. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find links to some of Eureka Springs' biggest fires and disasters.
Right: The Basin Spring Bath House burns during the night of Sept. 28, 1986.
Major Fires & Events:
(please note that this section is a work in progress.)
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--1883
November 3 -A fire burned both sides of Mountain and Eureka Streets eventually spreading to over five acres and destroying seventy-five buildings. The fire starting in the Cushingberry building during the early morning hours.
--1888
November 23 -Spring Street was the focal point of another disasterous fire. A blaze started in the Hancock House and spread into the business district. In this fire the Hancock House, Hotel Silver, and more than fifty other business were destroyed along with almost 500 houses.
--1890
October -Forty-five houses, the Grand Central Hotel and the Flat Iron Building were consumed in a fire which originated at the Perry House.
--1893
March 15 -A stove pipe started a fire in the Brodie Brothers business and consumed a full city block including the Western Hotel. Nearly fifty homes were destroyed in the blaze.
--1925
Unknown -The second version of the Flat Iron Building burns.
--1932
March -The First Christian Church, Thach Hotel, and New Port Flats apartments burn.
--1933
November 12 --Southern Hotel, located on the south side of Basin Spring Park, burns with a loss of forty rooms.
--1945
September 13 -A fire damaged the five story Butt Building, a commercial interest, and damaged the nearby Allred Hotel.
--1958
January 2 -A fire started in the vacant Blackburn House on Center Street and spread to the Sanford Building on Spring Street.
--1967
March 15 -A spectacular rooftop fire at the Crescent Hotel catches the attention of the the townspeople.
--1984
November 29 -The Landaker Hotel on North Main Street burns during the night.
--1986
September 28 -For the second time in Eureka Springs' history the Basin Spring Bath House is destroyed by fire and rebuilt.
--1987
--1988
June 30 -The Red Brick Schoolhouse on Kansas Street catches fire after being struck by lightening. The bed and breakfast was occupied by forty-five people at the time. There were no injuries.
--2006
--2005
--2009
Beaver Lake Flood
Ice Storm
--2011
Beaver Lake Flood (again!)
Which Fire?
We are attempting to identify these fire photos. Can you help? We believe that the two "Fuller" pics are a "before" and "after" photo of the same building.
Fuller 1
Fuller 2
Unknown Victorion house fire
Credits:
Historical information comes from a variety of sources and often has to be checked and rechecked for authenticity and correctness. This is not the work of any one person. The webmaster for this site gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the following people and places:
--Dan Ellis, webmaster, www.eurekaspringshistory.com
--Stan Kujawa "Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Fires, Springs & The Underground" www.camelot2k.com