On the morning of the fire in Carthage, I was watching cartoons with my brother. We could smell the smoke inside our house. We went out to see what was happening. We could see a lot of very gray smoke. The smell was really strong and the soot was blowing our way. There were specks on the windshield of our car.
We watched the news to see what was burning. We found out it started in the auction house and it had already spread to several other buildings. We felt sad for the people who lost their homes and businesses.
Monday afternoon we drove by to see the damage. All that was left was a big pile of brick and wood. It was still smoking.
On March 2, 2002, a tragedy happened. Stefano's, H&R Block, Clemons Plumbing and Heating and many apartments went down in flames.That morning I woke up to sirens coming from Watertown to help put it out. The smoke was dark and thick. My main reaction reaction was: "Oh, my goodness!" It was terrible.
Fire fighters thought they had it under control. But they were wrong. Stefano's fell in a bang. All of the buildings fell in a bang. I don't think anybody will, or should, forget this day. Any way, it would be a good story to tell your kids.
I woke up late on March 2, 2002. I woke up by a knock at the door. I got up to see what it was. As I opened the door, I looked both ways to see if anyone was there; no one. I went back to bed. Later my friend who was spending the night, heard stomping. I did too. He went to the door to see what it was. He saw people knocking on other doors, so he asked, "Are we evacuating?'
Someone said "Yes", so he said, "Robin, we have to get out of here now!" I got Danielle, wrapped her with two blankets and drove away.
Later we went to my friends house. The next day we watched the news/ My house was still almost still standing, but it fell in [unstable buildings were demolished]. It was not peaceful because it took a while for me to find a house. I thought it was very nice when people gave us stuff.
Maybe you could lend a hand and help somebody that lost their house. One more thing, you don't know what you have until it's gone.
I know a fire policeman named Delmar. He lives up the street from me. He directed cars trying to get down by the fire and told everyone where to go. the firefighters worked hard to keep the fire from going more. I thank the firefighters and Delmar for helping.
Delmar was sad to see this tragedy, as all the people in Carthage are. My family and I walked around giving hot coffee and food and other things to the firefighters. McDonalds and Eckerd's donated things [food etc] and so did the other stores. I hear that a wood stove started this fire. I also heard Stefano's is opening back and calling it a Pizzeria until he can build again in his old spot.
On Saturday morning I saw some smoke on my way downstairs. My power went out for a couple of minutes. I felt really bad for the people having their homes burnt. I'm glad that there's lots of people in this world that can help the people that lost their homes.
On Saturday, March 2, a fire broke out in the early morning. It started in the Auction Center. It spread to several buildings. They had to knock down one building, to prevent the fire from spreading. In total, nine buildings were destroyed. There were many heroes that day. There were several fire departments from Jefferson and Lewis Counties. The whole community pulled together to help in whatever way they could.
Cindy woke up to check on their son and smelled smoke. She woke up her husband, Ken. They checked the door, opened it, and went down stairs. Then they left the building.
The Red Cross helped them get some new clothes. They had to move in with his brother. They're still looking for a home.
They met many new people who became their friends. They have to replace everything they lost, and start over again.
I interviewed Jessika for my report for Social Studies. She was with her mom at the fire. Her mom works for the Rescue Squad.
Q: What did you do the day of the fire?
A: I went with my mom to the Rescue Squad to get ready to go to the fire. We needed to check the firemen for health and oxygen.
Q: How did you feel when the buildings collapsed?
A: I felt sad and kind of mad because those were people's homes and businesses. That was also a part of Carthage and now we're not as big anymore.
Q: When did you go to the fire?
A: I went to the fire at 8 a.m. on Saturday because that's when it started.
Q: Do you know anyone who lost their home in the fire?
A: Stefano's son lost his apartment on top of Stefano's Restaurant and Stefano lost his business.
Q: How do you think the fire started?
A:I think it started by as fire place in the Auction Center. I think there were papers all around the fire place and they caught fire.
The fire in Carthage was very bad! I don't know how it started for sure, but they think it started by a furnace in the auction house. I feel bad for the people that lost their homes. My mom's boyfriend went to work at 5:30 and the fire had not started yet. He called my mom at 6:30 when he saw the smoke. He said that the fire was 100 feet above the buildings. My mom told me and I was very upset, and I still am. I hope everyone that lost their homes get another one.
I feel good in a way; when my child is studying the fire in the future and they need help, I can tell them a lot about the fire because I lived through it.
On March 2nd, my little sister was watching Blue's Clues and then the news came across the television screen. The news said that there was a big fire in Carthage on State Street across the bridge.
The Fire Department worked hard to put the fire out using water from the Black River pumping about 30,000 gallons a minute. Some people went to the hospital from breathing the smoke. The smoke was so bad that the Fire Department couldn't see. The news said about 150 people lost their homes. They believe it started because of a wood stove.
This accident made me sad because people were hurt and so many people lost their homes. I would be willing to do anything I can to help.
I Interviewed Stacy Hancock. Stacy lost her job in the fire. She worked at Stefano's. To Stacy the fire was very shocking. When the buildings collapsed it was very depressing.
Stacy wants to work at Stefano's again. They're rebuilding Stefano's in the same place. But before that they're going to use the old Pizza Hut.
I asked Stacy how she thinks the fire got started. Stacy said,"I think the fire got started by a wood stove in the Auction Barn."
Stacy said about twenty-five people worked in Stefano's. That means twenty-five people lost their jobs.
To me, the fire was scary, depressing and shocking. What I think about the fire is that it's really cool that I lived through a piece of history. In a hundred years, people will be studying this tragic piece of history that I lived through. I love studying local history.
Before 6 a.m., a call came into the Carthage Fire Department. A smoke alarm had been sounded in the old Johnson Auction Building. 8 buildings burned all the way down to the ground. They tore down the 9th because it was going to spread further. They spent 2 days and 1 night to put out that nasty fire. Smoke was every where in Carthage. You couldn't even see. They used gallons and gallons and gallons of water.
The fire started in the basement of the Johnson Auction Building. How did it start? Well, they think the stove got red hot and it caught on fire. The 3rd and 4th day there were still some hot spots. When I was at the Carthage Library, I saw the dark gray smoke and I saw them tear down a building. How did I get there? Well, I went through Great Bend. I think they are still keeping an eye on it. People have been saying for years that if a fire started in one of the century old buildings on State Street, the whole block would go, but they were wrong. A lot of people lost homes and some lost both. The whole community worked together to help the people that lost their homes, clothing and food.
My thoughts on the fire were sad because a lot of people lost their homes. I am glad I didn't live in those apartments because I wouldn't want to be homeless. When Stefano's burned down, I felt sorry for the people who owned it because I knew them.
The day of the fire, I was there at 6:45 in the morning. The reason I was there at that time was because my dad is deputy mayor and the real mayor was out of town. So my dad was mayor that week-end.
I never thought that those buildings would burn down. Seeing and watching the fire was an experience I will never forget.
On Saturday morning I awoke to my mom and dad talking. Dad said that the old auction barn was on fire. Dad left and I started watching t.v., then dad came back and said that half of the block was on fire. I felt surprised that half of the block was on fire. Later I went to the fire and looked at it. I knew one of the person there. His name was Carly. He was helping to knock down buildings that were destroyed by the fire. 150 people were homeless.
I feel disappointed about the Great Carthage Fire of 2002. People's businesses, like H.R. Block, the video store and Stefano's Pizza Restaurant burnt down. So we aren't able to eat pizza anymore. Second, people lost homes, toys, money, food, clothes and furniture. One of them is my friend Robin's house. Third, people's cars, trucks, vans and jeeps got trashed because the buildings collapsed on them. Last, the tunnel between Ethan Allen furniture store and Clemons Plumbing and Heating store collapsed. My friends and I used to play there. So, that's why I'm unhappy about this fire.
Early morning of March 2, 2002, the old Johnson's Auction Barn burst into flames. It is a rumor that the fire started from a really hot wood stove. I think it would have been very scary to be a fireman fighting the fire because it was almost as bad as the Great Carthage Fire of 1884. I knew a lot of the victims who either lost their jobs or homes from the fire. They are sad and I am sad about them. Some of the businesses that burned down are being relocated. Stefano's is now going to be at the old Pizza Hut, Clemons' Heating and Plumbing is now going to be in Mr. Clemons' house, PCC is now going to be in the old Hispanic church and H&R Block will now be in Mike's Quick Stop. 3-2-02 will always be remembered.