Ålesund Fire

The Ålesund Fire happened in the Norwegian city of Ålesund on 23 January 1904. It destroyed almost the whole city centre, built mostly of wood like the majority of Norwegian towns in that era.

The fire

The fire started around 2 AM at "Aspøya", in the Aalesund Preserving Co.’s factory, which was located where Lower Strand Street 39 ("Nedre Strandgate 39") is located today. In spite of valiant efforts at suppression, the wind driven fire destroyed much of the town. The fire burned to a point just west of what today is called Brusdalshagen, going at least as far as Borgundvegen 39. The last and easternmost house which burned stood where Borgundvegen 37 stands today. In total, the fire destroyed nearly 850 houses, leaving approximately 230 houses remaining within the town borders. There was only one fatality from the fire.

The initial alarm

At 2:15 AM on Saturday, 23 January 1904 the initial alarm was received from a manual pull station. Shortly afterwards the fire watchtower observed an open fire in the lower part of the Strandgate. Almost simultaneously another manual pull station signal alarm was received from the Kråsbys area. Two fire crews were dispatched immediately.

The initial response

Although fire crews responded immediately the sky brightened rapidly in the direction of the Aalesund Preserving Co.’s factory. The weather was unfavorable; a strong gale blew out of the southwest. When the fire engines proceeded through the lower part of the Strandgate to the fire, they encountered heavy smoke and a rain of sparks, such that the horses panicked and had to be blindfolded and led to the fire.

When the fire engines arrived on the scene, they found the Aalesund Preserving Co. engulfed in flames and the nearest neighbouring buildings also burning. The two nearest buildings were in flames and before the crew could begin fighting these fires, two more were burning as well.

The storm blew so strongly that people had difficulty standing. The draft caused buildings to burn vehemently generating both radiant heat and windblown sparks which spread the fire. Soon a house on the north side of Stradgate was ignited; a ladder was erected and fire hoses were directed at the fire, but the firefighters were ineffective in slowing the rapidly spreading fire.

The fire expands

At virtually the same time sparks spread the fire to other houses on the north side of Strandgate. Another fire engine had arrived but the water demand was high and the pressure was so low that the stream could not reach the top of the houses. More houses in the lower part of the street and eastwards to Aspøgate began to burn. A steam driven fireboat was brought in service in the harbour near the end of "Aspøgate" [The term "gate" is a Norwegian suffix meaning street. The translation follows common practice of leaving this suffix, as that’s how local maps and travel guides display it. ] . The fire now raged over the entire "Strandgate" and the area had to be evacuated.

The "Prestegate" fire line

Attempts were made to build a "Prestegate" fire break by tearing down buildings. Almost immediately thereafter the alarm was raised because the fire had spread to Rasmussen’s place in the "Kirkegate," which lay two blocks further into the city, as well as at the Latin school. Fire fighting on the lower Strandgate could no longer be sustained; the steam driven fireboat had to fall back to a new line on the "Langeberggate". There it came into action and was able to power four strong fire suppression steams.

The "Langeberggate" fire line

Meanwhile, fires had broken out on "Tellesbøegård" in the "Langeberggate". The blocks around the "Prestegate" were given up as lost. The fire chief chose to concentrate his forces on holding the line at "Murgård". With the combined efforts of the fire engines and fireboat, the fires in the "Tellesbøegård", the Latin school and Rasmussen’s place were extinguished (at least temporarily). But the wind continued strong, lofting sparks and embers, so that the fire line was jumped and houses along the Prestegate began to burn. The heat grew so oppressive that the firemen were forced to retreat or risk their lives.

Shortly thereafter "Rønneberg & Sønners pakhus" in the "Notenesgate", which lay about 500 meters away on the other side of the "Brosund" (open water), was reported to be burning. Fire also recommenced at the "Tellesbøegård", at the Latin school and in a house in "Øvregate" as well as on the roof at "Murgård". The fire line on "Prestegate" had to be abandoned and the fire boat again relocated. Almost immediately, fire was reported at "H.W. Friis’s sjøpakhus" in "Verpingsvik" which lies about 1.5 kilometers distant.

The "Hellegate" fire line

Although the fire fighters were reinforced by additional help, as the fire spread, manpower was lost since those who arrived first to fight the fire feared for their families safety. Some left the lines to assure their relatives were safely evacuated. The fire lines grew longer and longer, with manpower spread more a more thinly.

An attempt was made to fall back and create a new fire line to halt the fire at "Hellegate" street. The fire boat was directed to "Apotekerbrygg" and the fire forces were concentrated there. But before they could begin activity establishing the fire line there, the roofs of houses on the east side of "Hellegate" caught fire. Further, the crews dispatched to Rønneberg’s warehouse were unsuccessful in extinguishing that fire. It became clear the outer town was lost. The fire chief chose to halt the fire with the natural water gap fire line of the "Brosund" combined with suppression of the Rønneberg’s warehouse fire.

The "Brosund" fire line

The wind, which had initially blown out of the southwest, was westerly at day break and continued to shift until it blew without abating out of the northwest. This distributed sparks and embers over larger and larger areas and the fire spread with increasing celerity.

Evacuation

The fire started late and spread quickly, leading to a hurried evacuation of people at very short notice into the cold January night. As the fire spread it became clear there was little local shelter to be had and the population of over 10,000 was forced to seek shelter elsewhere. A fortunate few were able to flee by boat. The old and the sick were loaded on wagons and carts, but most fled on foot with only what they could carry.

Most fled along "Volsdalsvegen" (today named "Borgundvegen"), proceeding to Volsdalen and Nørve. Others took the path on the north side of Aksla, which also led to safety Volsdalen. The regional governor Alexander Kielland, reported that over two hundred people spent the night after the fire in Borgund church.

Only one person was known to die. That was an old lady who went back into her house to get her purse.

Reconstruction

Liberal aid was provided to Ålesund both from within Norway and from abroad. Kaiser Wilhelm II had been a frequent visitor to the area and expressed a personal concern for the plight of the population. As a result, much of the international help was from Germany, sent in Keiser Wilhelm’s name. His first telegram was received while the fire was still being extinguished. He dispatched four ships loaded with personnel, food, medicine, materials for shelters and equipment.

The town was rebuilt in the then contemporary Jugendstil (Art Nouveau). Modern historians have concluded that the fire was actually positive in terms of city development. [ [http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=211276 Verdens Gang (Norwegian Newspaper). no icon] ] The pre-fire city centre was extremely crowded, consisting mostly of old and cramped wood housing with only rudimentary sanitary facilities.

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