Nursing home fire from 50 years ago remembered

Read this story and tell me how long it takes to figure out where this fire happened.

Jim Dillman wrote:

Read this story and tell me how long it takes to figure out where this fire happened.

I didn't figure it out -- where in Jonesburg did it happen?

Based on the last couple of paragraphs, I would guess Warrenton. I'll double check the local newspaper archives, though...

It was in Warrenton, pretty sure on the northeast corner of 47 and main (hwy a). The Brockfelds lived east of there on A. My grandparents lived just on the other side of the tracks - they never mentioned it to me.

Here's a link for more information: http://www.elderweb.com/home/node/2856 . It was in Warrenton, as Miles noted.

Hey thanks for sharing this it was very interesting..
Did anyone every hear of the names that was lost in the fire?

Mustbe wrote:

Hey thanks for sharing this it was very interesting..
Did anyone every hear of the names that was lost in the fire?

It was in Warrenton.. More info is available on the NFPA website -(National Fire Protection Association) The memorial for the people is in the Warrenton City Cemetary.. all the names are there..

Google "Katie Jane Nursing Home" see what you find.. There is also info on the Warrenton Fire Districts' web site.

I drove the first ambulance into that particular incicdent. It was in Warrenton, MO. My family owned the Kemper -Marsh Funeral Homes in Troy, MO and I was called by John Neiburg, owner and operator of the Neiburg Funeral Home in Warrenton in the early afternoon.

My college roomeate, Leslie Doyle Sherman and myself were playing catch in the front yard of the funeral home when John called.

He said "Send me everything you've got. This is John Neiburg in Warrenton. I need every doctor, nurse, fire department and ambulance you can get to me for God's sake, Katie Jane's on fire."

I remember that call word for word - you don't forget something like that!

I drove the first ambulance into that disaster. My only patient was an elderly man who had only second-degree burns on his back. That was the only patient-related injury in this fire; the only other injury was to a fire-fghter who arrived later, who suffered a broken ankle when a wall collapsed upon him. There were no other reported injuries - people either survived without injury or were killed.

I spent six days on-site, first as a first responder and later as a volunteer fireman from the Troy, MO fire department.

The building, an old remnant of a college, had the old-style oiled wooden floors, and as the fire took root in the basement the rest of the building went up in a flash due to the oil in the floors.

Being three floors high, each floor collapesed upon the one below it as the fire burned upward.

We spent days walking the debris sniffing the air for the odor of roast beef. When we smelled it, we stopped and dug.

Many times we found only a piece of charred, burnt flesh, perhaps the size of two doubled fists.

Dr. Henry Sweet, a world-remowned forensic patholigist from Hannibal, MO was called in to identify as many remains as possible. Due to his tireless work a number of remains that would otherwise have been labeled "anonymous" were identified.

A further brief note: As we left the town of Troy, MO to go to the site of the fire, both Doyle Sherman and myself saw the pillar of smoke frim the fire as we passed the Troy city cenetery - some 20 miles away!

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