The I. Rude Building Fire
By ALEX SHUTZ

    In the process of being demolished is the I. Rude Building, 334 South Broadway.  This building, constructed many years ago of ordinary brick and frame, is about 50 feet by 150 feet in area, four stories in height with full basement.  The first floor is occupied by a combination variety store and pet shop.  The second floor is used for the storage of bolt goods in connection with clothing manufacturing occupancies on the third and fourth floors.   The basements is used principally for the sheltering of small animals, a part of the pet shop.

    At approximately 5:00 a.m. on February 28th, the Signal Office received a report from a passer-by that smoke was seen issuing from the upper stories of a building on Broadway between Third and Fourth Streets.   The first-alarm assignment of E3, E23, E16, T3, T28, Squad 23, Salvage 23 and Battalion 1 were dispatched with this information.  This routine assignment, however, found a fire in the I. Rude Building of such magnitude as to require a three-alarm assignment.

    Reports of the first companies to arrive were that the building was "breathing" heavily from all parts.   Yellowish-brown smoke was issuing from the aged brick-work, and from around doors and windows.  The first thought of experienced firefighters was that conditions were perfect for a "back-draft."  Utmost care was taken to properly "ventilate" to avoid this possibility.

    By all appearances the fire had been slow-burning for some time.  A "mushrooming" effect had loaded the building from basement to roof with hot smoke and gases.  Smoke so dense that firemen could enter the building only a few feet crawling on hands on knees.  Heat so intense as to make windows and fire-escape railings too hot to touch, even though not directly exposed to fire.

    The early morning of February 28th was cold, dark and clear, possibly the coldest this winter.  A very slight breeze was blowing in an easterly direction.  The large volume of dense smoke seemed to hang in the air, not readily rising or dissipating.  Companies coming in on the second-alarm assignment encountered smoke in the streets as far away as Sixth and Broadway.  The "loom-up" was visible in some cases to companies upon leaving quarters.

    During the early stages of the fire, firemen making their way on hands and knees through the smoke-filled basement, did not realize that small animals were quartered in the basement.  The animals were strangely quiet, no doubt from fear of the unknown.  As a matter of fact, a Captain later discovered a canary in the pocket of his turncoat, that had evidently flown into this haven during the excitement.  Many of the animals were rescued, notably a small monkey which was carried out on a fireman's shoulder, only to bite another fireman upon reaching the clear atmosphere.  Just one more occupational hazard to consider.

    With the addition of oxygen, the result of "opening-up," the building became a raging inferno. Upon orders of the officers in charge, heavy duty streams were set up and the men ordered from the building as a precautionary measure. 

    To handle this fire, 1,800 feet of 3 1/2" hose, 11,000 feet of 2 1/2" hose, 850 feet of 1 1/2" hose were laid and used by the Engine Companies.  Six hundred and eighteen feet of ladders were raised by three Truck Companies.  Thirty-three salvage covers were placed by two Salvage Companies.  In addition to the several batteries and deluge sets in operation, Water Tower 3 saw considerable action and performed effectively.

    It is interesting to note that some of the older hands first thought on arrival were memories of a similar fire in the Gray Building about 1938.  The former site, right next door to the south, is now a parking lot . . . a similar destiny awaits the Rude Building.

    Of further interest is the fact that the wrecking company awarded the contract for demolishing the building had some trouble securing liability insurance because of the dangerous condition of the structure.   The possibility of the building collapsing at any time during the week or ten days required for heavy duty wrecking equipment to arrive was a factor to consider.  The liability insurance was secured subject to safety precaution restrictions.