Description
This black and white photograph shows the fire at the Imperial Oil warehouses on Harriet Street on 30 May 1950. There was an estimated $150,000 (approx $1.5 million today) worth in damages. Steel-grey smoke bellowed up over 2000 feet in the air and was reported seen from over 30 miles away. But for a fortunate wind from Lake Nipissing blowing the fires southerly spared Imperial Oil's storage tanks which contained over 12,000 gallons of gasoline. This would have been disastrous as they were not drained, unlike Imperial Oil's gasoline tank cars which were drained to prevent the explosion of flaming gas. The miniscule firefighters douse the blaze in their diminutive stream which, by the grace of the wind, they brought under control by noon.Creator
John McNeillDate(s) of Creation
May 30, 1950
