A HISTORY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS MOST DEVASTATING FIRES

Council Bluffs firefighters have battled hundreds of fires, and have saved many lives and millions of dollars worth of property since the first volunteer "bucket brigade" doused its first blaze.

Here is a list of the dates and locations of the city's most devastating fires:

Nov. 14, 1853

Downtown district fire on Broadway at Madison Street (now First Street).

Nov. 14, 1854

Downtown district burns a second time.

Feb. 22, 1860

ConcertHall.

Jan. 11, 1872

Pacific House.

March 28, 1908

New Scenic Theater.

March 11, 1917

Wickham Building.

March 8, 1922

Goodrich Hotel.

Dec. 3, 1922

The Brown and Rogers block between First and Willow Avenues.

Dec. 3, 1925

Grand Hotel, Continental Furniture Company, Shugart block, A.F. Smith Building, N.Y. Plumbing Company, Citizen's Gas and Electric Company, Lewis and Emarine, Postal Telegraph and several other buildings were wiped out on Pearl and Main Streets near First Avenue.

November 1950

The L.H. Katelman Hardware Company, a tavern and part of the Breeders Supply Company.

Oct. 21, 1952

Blue Star Foods and Continental-Keller Companies.

Feb. 13, 1957

Council Bluffs Convalescent Home (14 died in the fire, making it the worst blaze in the city's history).

March 24, 1957

Brown's Shoe Store, Edwards Cafe and Barnes Beauty Salon.

Oct. 28, 1961

The old Hoagland Lumberyard and Ford Brothers Van Storage and Moving warehouse.

Oct. 28, 1963

Griffin Pipe Products Company explosion.

March 31, 1968

Rog and Scotty's Super Valu Store, 3435 W. Broadway.

Jan. 13, 1972

Elder Court Apartments

Dec. 19, 1973

An elevator owned by Vanice Grain Inc.

Dec.11, 1974

Strand Theater.

Feb. 4, 1976

An elevator owned by Warren Feed and Grain Co., Inc.

Oct. 3, 1976

Kirn Junior High School.

Feb. 17, 1977

Joker Lounge.

Dec. 29, 1978

Upstairs Downstairs Lounge and B & B Auto Body.

Feb. 17, 1981

Warehouse and elevator owned by The Hy-Brid Seed Co.

April 20, 1982

Bluffs Elevator Company blast, which resulted in five deaths.

Dec. 24, 1982

First Federal Savings and Loan Association explosion, which resulted in two deaths.

This list does not include the many house fires which resulted in deaths.