During the 19th century, coal mining was one of Vancouver Island’s major industries. Coal mining in early British Columbia was risky business, and accidents often occurred, which killed miners and damaged and destroyed mines and mine shafts. One of the very worst mining accidents very to occur in British Columbia happened in the Spring of [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Fires'
B.C.’s Worst Coal Mining Disaster
July 27th, 2010 · 1 Comment · British Columbia, Canada, Vancouver Island
Tags:Disasters·Fires·Historical·Mining
Victoria’s Great Fire of 1910
July 15th, 2010 · No Comments · British Columbia, Canada, Victoria
Throughout its history, Victoria has seen a number of disastrous fires. One of it’s most notable conflagrations occurred in October of 1910. The fire, which started in the Spencer’s Department store, caused somewhere between $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 damage to the city’s downtown core, and destroyed several landmark buildings. Islander author Leonard Myers describes the fire. [...]
First to Arrive Fought the Fire
July 14th, 2010 · No Comments · British Columbia, Canada, Vancouver Island, Victoria
Fires were a constant threat in early Victoria. Before the Victoria Fire Department was ever officially formed, the city had a three different private fire fighting companies, who each competed with each other every time there was a fire. The first to be formed was the Union Hook and Ladder Co. in 1859. A year [...]