Ladders to the Rescue: Spokane's Crescent Block Burns
A pre-dawn fire guts a three-story brick building, trapping lodgers until firefighters raise ladders to the windows.
SPOKANE, Wash., Feb. 23.—A fire started in the basement of the Crescent block at 3:30 this morning, and before it was extinguished the building was completely gutted. The building, which is a three-story brick adjoining the Review building, was filled with lodgers and roomers. In a short time all avenues of escape were cut off, save the windows, and the people in the building appeared there and frantically appealed for help. Ladders were at once run up and half clothed men and women were assisted to the street. Wild rumors were quickly afloat of men and women unable to escape, but at this writing it appears that all the occupants were rescued in safety. The losses are heavy. Alfred Stebbins, Crescent block, gutted; loss $15,000; insured. Mr. Bract, music store, $17,000, insured for $5,000. Mrs. Ford, $10,000, insurance not known. Mr. Welch, $9,000, covered by insurance. The building was the only brick structure left standing by the great fire of August, 1889.
“Ladders were at once run up and half clothed men and women were assisted to the street.”
The 1889 fire had destroyed much of Spokane, but the Crescent Block survived as a rare brick holdout. Its loss in 1892 underscored how quickly growth could be undone by disaster—a lesson still relevant as cities grapple with fire safety and emergency response.
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