Tiger Stadium Fire
For many years I have looked at a picture on the wall of my office. It shows a water tower engaged in battling a fire at Tiger Stadium way back in the 1970s. To me it is an example of the type of situation Firefighters face on a daily basis. I never knew the whole story about this fire. Recently a retired Fire Captain came to my house and I asked him if he knew anyone who was at that fire. He satisfied my curiosity with the true story of what happened on that cold winter night. He was the driver of Ladder 12 when the fire occurred. Ladder 12 is a relatively slow company stationed near downtown Detroit. They are only a mile from the stadium. They could see a glow and smoke as they pulled out of quarters. The officer in charge was Bill O’Dell. On arrival the guard came to the front gate and was unaware of the fire burning in the press boxes high above the playing field. At first he refused to let the ladder truck enter the stadium. Lt. Bill O’Dell climbed out of the rig and turned into the Incredible Hulk. The gates were quickly opened and the guard disappeared. O’Dell and his crew were able to get the 100 foot aerial into position where they could see flames and smoke and start working a water tower. Other companies were arriving and the Chief called for a multiple alarm response.
The driveway into the ball field area was opened and the sight of the fire in the press box area promised a long hard night for Detroit Firefighters. The next two ladder trucks that came into the stadium got stuck in the two feet of snow that covered the entire inside of the ball park. Firefighters moving hose lines and equipment were hampered by these difficult conditions. It was like fighting a fire on the Eastern front in Russia during World War II. Heavy hand lines would have to be taken upstairs to attack the fire from below. By now the entire press box area was involved with fire. Nobody could find a stairwell. There was only one elevator and that was not an option because the doors would open to a raging fire.
Lt. O’Dell was searching for a way up when he bumped into a little kid. The kid said, He knew how to go upstairs and pointed out a ladder attached to a wall that led to a trap door. O’Dell said they were able to get up that ladder and get a line working. Through a super effort the fire crews started to roll the fire back. The fire lasted most of the night. O’Dell said he never saw that little kid again. He must have been a gift from the gods who protect Firefighters. It was a good stop and a job well done in extremely difficult conditions. I enjoy looking at that picture. The story I was told matched what I imagined did occur. It still makes me smile to think that my Department was putting on a great show in Tiger Stadium and there were no spectators to watch the action.
Stay safe my brothers and sisters
"Fire Talk" Archives
- Benny the Hook
- Got To Love Texas
- The Fog of Retirement
- Two Tough Kids
- On Leaving the Department
- Cop Talk 3, Ceremony
- Putting it on the Line
- A Bond of Love
- God Will Protect Us
- Stealing Fires
- Poo Poo Pants
- Decoy Carver
- Firefighter's Road Trip
- Day Twenty-seven. Road Trip
- Down Mexico Way
- Zoo in the 7th
- A Gentle Landing
- Always a Firefighter
- Christmas at the Firehouse
- Harem Sacrum
- The Crow Who Spoke Polish
- Once a Firefighter always a Firefighter
- A Brotherhood
- Retiring a Hall of Fame Firefighter
- Anatomy of Forcible Entry
- 911
- Old Horses
- The Milk Wagon
- The Howling
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 26, Destructo
- Memories of the 7th Battalion
- Running Mates
- Engine 32
- Last Alarm
- Tiger Stadium Fire
- To Moosenee and Back
- Memorial Day 2009
- Anatomy of a Fire at a Dangerous Building
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 25, A Typical 7th Battalion Fire
- Boris the Talking Dog
- Wear and Tear
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 24, Legends
- Axemen
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 23, Ankie
- Anatomy of a Dwelling Fire
- A Firefighter's Spring
- Input
- My Running Mate
- The Singing Fireman
- The Right Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 22, A Desperate Rescue
- 300 Spartans
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 21, Men Who Fight Bears
- At the End of His Rope
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 20, Wolf Warriors
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 19, Motorcycle Maniac
- Career Ending Injuries
- Detroit Loses One of Its Finest
- On Duty Injuries
- Unpractical Jokes
- Dedication in the Fire Service
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 18, Spare Parts
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 17, Passage to Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 16, Gallant Warrior
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 15, Big Ones
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 14, Chicago Lil
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 13, Bridge Fires
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 12, Hot Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 11, Taco Wars
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 10, Day in Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 9, Engine House Cat
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 8, Finding a Pen
- The Polish Squad
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 7, Wayne Soap
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 6, Junk Yard Goat
- The 1967 Riot in Detroit 3
- Department Legends
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 5, The Fonz
- The 1967 Riot (an entry from Tom Hart)
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 4, Howard
- The Buhl Building Fire
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 3, Engine 27
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 2, Roof Rescue
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 1, Explosion
- The worst 7th Battalion Fire
- Fire Incidents
- Beeler's Fog Monster
- Thoughts of a Retired Firefighter
- Dogs of the Realm
- Going to the Dogs
- Firefighter/Lawyer ?
- Moe Tales
- The Legend of Moe
- A POEM: When Brave Men Cry