Section E Pg 22 Missoulian Centennial 92 Fire Alarms Yearly Average
92 Fire Alarms Yearly Average
From 1900 to 1920 the Missoula fire department received an average of 92 alarms per year.
Fire losses during that time were heaviest in 1913 when the Florence Hotel burned down Jan. 10. The loss was $76,950. Fire losses for the entire year totaled $115,577.
Other properties extensively damaged by fire included Smith’s Drug Store in 1915, Erickson’s Shop in 1916, Missoula Mercantile Co. grocery warehouse in 1917, Russell’s residence in 1918, Peterson’s Drug Store in 1919 and Richotte’s residence in 1920. Of these Peterson’s Drug Store suffered the heaviest losses with a loss of $24,321.
Although nearly a half million dollars’ worth of property had been damaged since 1913, the losses were replaced tenfold ten years late. Building activities amounted to $5,000,000 from 1913 to 1923.