A real photo postcard, "Brea — Oil Tank Fire," by Dietrich Studio of Santa Ana, April 1926.
Entry/Object ID
2012.460.1.1
Description
A real photo postcard, "Brea — Oil Tank Fire," by Dietrich Studio of Santa Ana, April 1926. There is an enormous plume of black smoke rising from an open storage tank. At the bank of the earthen walls are men placing material along the slope, presumably to prevent boiling oil from causing further damage. On 8 April 1926, lightning caused a fire in reservoir #10 of the Union Oil oil tank farm and the conflagration spread over a few days to cause destruction to more reservoirs, a small refinery, seventy acres of walnut and orange groves, several houses and other property. Some 2.5 million barrels of oil were burned and the cost of the damage was estimated at well over $3 million. About 3,000 men were employed in trying to extinguish the blaze. The unused postcard has a small missing corner at the upper left, browning, soiling and abrasions along the edges. The image is in good condition overall.
