Firemens Museum

The Firemen's Museum

Early in the morning on October 26, 1875, fire broke out in Kate Shea's boarding house. A strong wind quickly spread the fire. Gallant attempts from the volunteer firemen to extinguish the blaze were futile.

By 11:00 A.M., most of the city had been reduced to ashes. By 2 P.M., the flames of the greatest conflagration ever to sweep through the comstock had ceased.

About two thousand buildings were lost, estimated loses for the fire was $10,000,000.