Sunday, October 19, 2014

Cincinnati's 1st Fire - Spring 1794

Cincinnati's 1st Big Fire - Spring 1794

     The 1st settlers in Cincinnati landed in December 1789.  These early pioneers built their cabins on what would become Front Street.  Because the cabins were very near the Ohio River there was little fear of fire.  After a few years of development the settlement had grown away from the river.  Land was constantly being cleared of trees and brush to make room for farming and planting.  By 1794 there was an area of town that started around 6th Street and extended north.  Here over 100 acres were contained inside a worm fence that had been built several years earlier.  One of only a few structures inside this area was a frame office constructed by the pioneer lawyer Thomas Goudy.  Goudy no longer used this building for work as it was found to be too far north of town to be convenient. 


A typical worm fence or snake fence


     In early spring 1794 one of the settlers in this northern section of town was using fire to clear brush along the western end of the fenced in area.  The brush and downed trees prevented the planting of crops.  A strong wind suddenly turned the small clearing fire into an uncontrolled wildfire.  The wind drove the blaze east and soon this entire northern section was burning.  The entire population turned out in an effort to save what they could.  Men with buckets took up position around Goudy's office while others worked to protect the fence.  Ultimately the building was saved but the fence was largely destroyed. 

     History does not record what ultimately caused the fire to be checked.  It likely burned through the available dry and loose brush covering this area before burning itself out.  Certainly the citizens did what they could to extinguish the fire as well.  After the excitement had subsided it was clear to the citizens that the risk of fire was not to be taken lightly.  From that point forward greater care was taken to clear brush off areas settled so as to prevent future wildfires that might threaten the settlement.  As the population continued to expand and more buildings were constructed the citizens of Cincinnati would soon consider more substantial means with which to control and prevent fire.  Soon laws would be passed to govern how citizens should respond to these emergencies.






Sources:
1 - Centennial History of Cincinnati and Representative Citizens by Charles Theodore Greve
               Volume 1, published 1904
2 - A History of the Cincinnati Fire Department in the Nineteenth Century by Kathleen J. Kiefer
               University of Cincinnati M.A. Dissertation - 1967

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