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1968
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1968 - Richard R. McClintock down.
1968 - Smoke Stack fire.
February 19, 1968 - Southwest Grease & Oil, 220 W. Waterman - "Lots of gut."
April 13, 1968 - Walls IGA - Lincoln and Woodlawn.
April 30, 1968 - OK Transfer and Storage Co. fire.
April 30, 1968 - OK Transfer and Storage Co. fire.
August 8, 1968 - Trend store - Burned during the riots in north Wichita.
December 11, 1968 - 8 children narrowly escaped from this house.
Helping a friend - the Salvation Army.
| February 19, 1968, saw another major fire, this time at the Southwest Grease and Oil Company which resulted in loss of $100,000 (this was the second major fire at this plant in a seven-year period).
The big fires continued as the Walls Supermarket at Woodlawn and Lincoln burned, this time a $290,000 fire loss. Two weeks later the OK Transfer and Storage Warehouse at 135 N. Santa Fe burned with a $100,000 loss.
In August, due to the increase civil disobedience and unrest in the community, a curfew was declared by the mayor from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. During this time, fire equipment had to be screened with heavy wire mesh to protect firefighters from projectiles thrown at them at fire scenes - several shots had also been fired at the men. Units responded to alarms in conditions much like those of horsedrawn days. With all street lights turned out and engines running without lights (headlights made good targets), it was difficult to move about.
More modern equipment was added to the Fire Department in May of 1968, including new portable power saws, gas detectors and recorders for the dispatcher's office to use in tracing false alarms. As always, Chief McGaughey was interested in upgrading the department, through new stations and equipment, providing more services to the public and adding to the professionalism of firefighters.
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Related to 11 - The Reawakening |
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