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Steamboat Has Second Largest Fire In History
Source: Oak Creek Times
January 9, 1941
A fire estimated to have done damage in the neighborhood of $30,000 completely gutted three of the oldest business buildings in the heart of Steamboat Springs business district early Saturday morning. It was reported at 5:10 in the morning with temperatures ranging around 30 degrees below zero. The volunteer fire department arrived to find that the blaze had already gained considerable headway in Mock's Economy Store.
Three more alarms were turned in for more men as the fire grew in intensity. A number of times it was thought that the fire was under control only to have it break out in another part of the building. False ceilings in the building that housed Mock's allowed the blaze to creep thru the structure unseen and ignite other parts of the building.
To add to the difficulty of the firemen ice covered everything as soon as water touched it. The clothing of each member of the department was frozen stiff and one of the fire hoses froze up considerably, further hampering them. In the end the department was able only to keep the blaze from spreading to other buildings adjoining the structures.
The fire was the second largest in the history of Steamboat Springs and the third to occur within that block in the period of thirty days. The first one was a short time ago in the Ever-Ready Cafe, the second in the Shaw Cafe the day before. Neither of these were of a serious nature.
It is believed that the origin of the fire was in the basement of Mock's Economy Store and that an explosion was to blame. The only thing that saved a large part of the town was the fact that the buildings to either side had brick walls. With difficulty the department kept it from catching the roofs of these.
The largest loss was incurred by Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Mock, owners of Mock's Economy Store. At the time of the fire they were in Glendale, California, and Mrs. Kenneth Cottrell was in charge of the business. All of the merchandise, counters and show cases in the front part of the store were saved. A large quantity of stoves, refrigerators, shoes, ski equipment, etc., in the back of the building were destroyed.
Insurance partially covered the loss. Mr. Mock owned the building which housed his business and Mr. George Allen, manager of Furlong's owned the building housing Charley Pratt's Barber Shop and Bill's Cafe. Mr. Allen had purchased his property only a short time before from Mr. and Mrs. Mock.
The highest praise is due the firemen of Steamboat for their remarkable performance and bravery. A large part of the men did not have a dry piece of clothing and icicles were hanging all over them. Their clothing was frozen to their bodies and many of them suffered with frost-bitten fingers and toes but they stuck with it till the fire was completely out.
It is the plan of both Mr. Allen and Mr. Mock to start as soon as adjustments can be made to build new modern structures to take the place of those burned. The new buildings, as planned, will add considerably to the appearance of the city. These business men are to be complimented for their forward-looking attitude.
The Mocks have rented part of the Ever-Ready Cafe from Ed Beeves and expect to be ready for business the latter part of the week.
[ Firemen present Nelson, Baker, Knotts, Wright, Heid, Combs, Forgey, Padgett, ColleyJ]
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