BUSINESS DISTRICT, DALLAS

Dallas Fire Department station at 10th and Tyler in 1931. Photo: oakcliff.org

A dramatic radio broadcast drew thousands of spectators to a fire in Dallas, Texas, on April 4, 1930.

Here are excerpts from The Dallas Morning News:

With exploding paint barrels throwing flames high into the air, fire Friday night swept a spectacular path through a downtown business block.

The damaged property fronted the 600 blocks of Commerce and Jackson streets, between Jefferson and Market streets.

A radio announcer from a near-by studio, seeing the flames, announced the location and described the scenic effects with such gusto that a gigantic crowd of onlookers pressed to the scene.

Police estimated that 5,000 people jostled into the vicinity, viewing the fire at one time, and that 50,000 joined the cavalcades that jammed thoroughfares in efforts to arrive.

Attracted by the hyperbolie [sic] descriptions of the radio announcer, people were reported leaving their homes in near-by towns for a view of the spectacle, under the impression that the Dallas business district was being swept by an uncontrollable conflagration.

The fire started at about 9:30 o'clock and shrtly after 10 o'clock it was under control. At 11 o'clock reports were being received of streets being jammed by eager crowds in automobiles.

Although unwieldy because of its excessive numbers, the crowd of spectators stayed in the main tractable and fairly easily kept out of danger by police, who formed fire lines around the block. 

Sixteen engine companies and six hook and ladder companies were brought into play by Fire Chief Jess Coffman in quelling the flames. Firefighters were deployed about the blaze from every side.