Butte Warehouse Explosion of 1895
A few minutes before 10 p.m. on January 15, 1895, a signal came into the Butte fire department from call box 72 indicating a fire near Utah and Iron Streets. Firefighters rushed to the scene in horse-pulled carts and began fighting the fire in the Kenyon-Connell Warehouse. Shortly afterward there was a small explosion in the warehouse. The men drew back, but after nothing significant occurred they resumed their positions, not knowing that tons of dynamite were illegally stored in the warehouse. The warehouse then exploded with such force that it blew shrapnel miles away, broke out windows throughout the city, and killed all those at the site. Civilians were awakened from their slumber and came running to help. The fire jumped to the Butte Hardware Company warehouse, which also held massive amounts of dynamite. It exploded in short order. Ultimately, 58 lives were lost in the Butte Warehouse Explosion of 1895.
Because of this catastrophe, the Montana State Firemen’s Association fought for better life insurance for its members, and today still has one of the best policies in the state of Montana. Butte Mayor William Thompson instated an ordinance in the spring of 1895 prohibiting explosive materials from being stored within three miles of city limits.
Over time this disaster faded from the memories of the citizens of Butte. In 2015, however, a group of citizens came together to create a memorial for the lives lost that terrible night. The memorial was completed in 2023 and can be seen at the Butte Fire Department Station #1, on the corner of Mercury and Idaho Streets.
Ground Zero
Buildings Leveled, 58 People Killed
Butte Police Officer James Steinborn was walking his beat shortly before 10 p.m. on January 15, 1895, when he spotted flames coming from the Kenyon-Connell Commercial Company warehouse. He rushed to fire call box 72 on the corner of Utah and Iron Streets and alerted the fire department.
Fifteen…
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Fallen Firefighters
Butte's Fire Department Nearly Wiped Out of Existence
The Great Explosion of 1895 nearly obliterated the Butte Fire Department, one of the first professional fire departments in the state of Montana. Thirteen of the 15 firefighters who responded to the fire were killed, including Chief Angus Cameron.
Cameron was born in Canada in 1861 and was raised…
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Police Officer Fred Krambeck
Killed by Airborne Debris
Police Office Fred Krambeck was on duty the night of January 15, 1895. Krambeck went to the fire to aid in whatever way he could after the first blast occurred. He was beckoned by a citizen named Wesley Warren that saw a “sneak thief” stealing from the pockets of a dead man and confronted him.…
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City Hall
Home of the Butte Fire Department
The Butte Fire Department in 1895 was housed on the main floor of City Hall, at 24 East Broadway. When the alarm came in from call box 72 on the night of January 15, the horses pulling the fire carts came racing out through the arches at the front of the building.
Fifteen firefighters rushed to…
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Butte Warehouse Explosion of 1895 Memorial
Keeping the Memory Alive
Butte Historical Memorials (BHM) was organized in 2015 with the goal of creating a memorial for the victims of the Butte Warehouse Explosion of 1895. Shortly after forming as a 501c3, the board was able to enlist the talents of local artist Martha U. Cooney-Simonich to capture six figures that best…
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