In his own words: Former Massillon fire chief recalls major blaze

Friday
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:22 AM

The Hess Snyder building was lost to fire 50 years ago today.

By Tom MatthewsRetired Massillon fire chief

Editor's note: Tom Matthews, Massillon's fire chief from October 1981 to September 2001, had been a firefighter with the department for about two years when the Hess Snyder building caught fire 50 years ago. Matthews was among the first to arrive at the scene and he recalls the blaze — among the city's most memorable.

It was 50 years ago on a cold Friday evening (Jan. 5, 1968) that the largest fire in Massillon in 25 years — and possibly to this day — occurred when the Hess Snyder building at 257 Erie Street S was almost destroyed by fire. 

The large, four-story structure on the west side of Erie Street extended from north of Oak Street south, to South Street SW, west to First Street SW. 

The first alarm came in at 8:30 p.m. via phone, with the caller saying, "the whole Hess Snyder building is on fire." It was immediately apparent that the department would have its work cut out as when the apparatus bay doors were opened at the central station on Charles Avenue SE, just a few blocks from the fire, the smoke was so heavy that the Ford garage at First Street could hardly be seen. 

Just a minute later, when the department arrived, firefighters found the center section of the fourth floor well involved with windows from the third floor being blown onto Erie Street. 

A heavy exterior attack was initiated with the aerial truck and master streams (a device fed by several hose lines used to pour water onto a fire). A general alarm was sounded recalling all off-duty personnel. 

An aerial and engine from Jackson Township’s Lake Cable station and an engine from the Richville Fire Department in Perry Township were requested to respond to the scene. 

In 16 years as fire chief, it was the first time Chief Don Simon called for aid from outside the city and the only time in his 24 years as chief that he ever did.

Every major piece of city apparatus was brought to the scene except engine 3 that covered the city from central station. It took most of the night to get the fire under control and the department responded to the building several times during the next few days to extinguish hot spots. 

One fireman was hurt when he was struck by bricks from a falling Erie Street wall. He remained at the scene fighting the fire.

Fire and ice

Water used in fighting the fire turned to ice as the temperature dropped into the teens, causing dangerous conditions for firemen.

Several thousand, including much of Navarre and the state hospital, were without telephone service as a main phone line on Erie Street was damaged by the fire. Service to most was restored by about midnight.

Burned embers were found in the downtown area the next day, however none caused another fire. Erie Street was closed over the weekend while unsafe walls of the building were knocked down and debris was removed from the street.

The cause was listed as a cutting torch being used in demolition. 

As the fire raged, a basketball game was in progress at Washington High School on Oak Street SE. A large number of fans left the game to watch the fire, then hurriedly left when a large section of the wall fell onto Erie Street.

Ironically, this fire was only a short distance from probably the largest fire in city history — the 1943 Buckeye Cereal fire on First Street SW. The post office and central fire station are now located on the site.  

Deadly blaze erupts

While most of the department was fighting the Hess Snyder fire, a call was received at 11:30 p.m. for a house fire at 1739 Huron Road SE.

Engine 3 responded from central station and the emergency squad from the Hess Snyder fire. At this time, an engine from Perry Township’s Perry Heights station was requested to cover the city from central station.

The house was found to be heavily charged with smoke and heat. Two small children were found in a rear bedroom. Both were pronounced dead on arrival at Massillon City Hospital.

There were five other residents of the house. Three were in guarded condition and one in fair condition at the hospital. One was uninjured. The house sustained heavy damage.

I learned a lot at the Hess Snyder fire.

Procedures that we had trained and drilled on over the years were actually put to use that day. We trained on laying hose lines and on master stream operations. Master streams were seldom used in Massillon. In 1968, master streams were taken off the truck and placed on the ground. Today, they are often mounted on the truck and are often called deck guns by firefighters.

It was amazing how well things worked and how we could handle a fire that large with the limited personnel we had — roughly 38 firefighters — all working that night.

To this day, I still sometimes get approached by people asking, "Do you remember the Hess Snyder fire?"

Friday
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:22 AM

The Hess Snyder building was lost to fire 50 years ago today.

By Tom MatthewsRetired Massillon fire chief

Editor's note: Tom Matthews, Massillon's fire chief from October 1981 to September 2001, had been a firefighter with the department for about two years when the Hess Snyder building caught fire 50 years ago. Matthews was among the first to arrive at the scene and he recalls the blaze — among the city's most memorable.

It was 50 years ago on a cold Friday evening (Jan. 5, 1968) that the largest fire in Massillon in 25 years — and possibly to this day — occurred when the Hess Snyder building at 257 Erie Street S was almost destroyed by fire. 

The large, four-story structure on the west side of Erie Street extended from north of Oak Street south, to South Street SW, west to First Street SW. 

The first alarm came in at 8:30 p.m. via phone, with the caller saying, "the whole Hess Snyder building is on fire." It was immediately apparent that the department would have its work cut out as when the apparatus bay doors were opened at the central station on Charles Avenue SE, just a few blocks from the fire, the smoke was so heavy that the Ford garage at First Street could hardly be seen. 

Just a minute later, when the department arrived, firefighters found the center section of the fourth floor well involved with windows from the third floor being blown onto Erie Street. 

A heavy exterior attack was initiated with the aerial truck and master streams (a device fed by several hose lines used to pour water onto a fire). A general alarm was sounded recalling all off-duty personnel. 

An aerial and engine from Jackson Township’s Lake Cable station and an engine from the Richville Fire Department in Perry Township were requested to respond to the scene. 

In 16 years as fire chief, it was the first time Chief Don Simon called for aid from outside the city and the only time in his 24 years as chief that he ever did.

Every major piece of city apparatus was brought to the scene except engine 3 that covered the city from central station. It took most of the night to get the fire under control and the department responded to the building several times during the next few days to extinguish hot spots. 

One fireman was hurt when he was struck by bricks from a falling Erie Street wall. He remained at the scene fighting the fire.

Fire and ice

Water used in fighting the fire turned to ice as the temperature dropped into the teens, causing dangerous conditions for firemen.

Several thousand, including much of Navarre and the state hospital, were without telephone service as a main phone line on Erie Street was damaged by the fire. Service to most was restored by about midnight.

Burned embers were found in the downtown area the next day, however none caused another fire. Erie Street was closed over the weekend while unsafe walls of the building were knocked down and debris was removed from the street.

The cause was listed as a cutting torch being used in demolition. 

As the fire raged, a basketball game was in progress at Washington High School on Oak Street SE. A large number of fans left the game to watch the fire, then hurriedly left when a large section of the wall fell onto Erie Street.

Ironically, this fire was only a short distance from probably the largest fire in city history — the 1943 Buckeye Cereal fire on First Street SW. The post office and central fire station are now located on the site.  

Deadly blaze erupts

While most of the department was fighting the Hess Snyder fire, a call was received at 11:30 p.m. for a house fire at 1739 Huron Road SE.

Engine 3 responded from central station and the emergency squad from the Hess Snyder fire. At this time, an engine from Perry Township’s Perry Heights station was requested to cover the city from central station.

The house was found to be heavily charged with smoke and heat. Two small children were found in a rear bedroom. Both were pronounced dead on arrival at Massillon City Hospital.

There were five other residents of the house. Three were in guarded condition and one in fair condition at the hospital. One was uninjured. The house sustained heavy damage.

I learned a lot at the Hess Snyder fire.

Procedures that we had trained and drilled on over the years were actually put to use that day. We trained on laying hose lines and on master stream operations. Master streams were seldom used in Massillon. In 1968, master streams were taken off the truck and placed on the ground. Today, they are often mounted on the truck and are often called deck guns by firefighters.

It was amazing how well things worked and how we could handle a fire that large with the limited personnel we had — roughly 38 firefighters — all working that night.

To this day, I still sometimes get approached by people asking, "Do you remember the Hess Snyder fire?"

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