1954 — Aug 23, home fire (children), wrong-size fuses/defective wiring, Waterville, ME– 5

— 5 Biddeford Journal, ME. “Funeral Held for Victims of Fire.” 8-25-1954, p. 2.
— 5 Daily News, Huntingdon, PA. “5 Small Children Perish in Blaze.” 8-23-1954, p. 10.
— 5 Waterville Fire-Rescue, ME. “History 1941-1960.”

Narrative Information

Waterville Fire-Rescue: “August 24: Five children ages 15 months to 7 years, died as a result of a fire on King Street. A defective wire in the bedroom began the blaze. The children were discovered huddled under a bed. They had died from smoke inhalation. The children’s father tried twice to enter the upper section of the two story house, but was driven back by flame each time. The alarm which was sounded from Box 32 at 7:34 a.m., was over at 8:00 a.m. Fire Chief Ralph E. Oilman said the house was equipped with 30 amp fuses. It should have had 15 amp fuses for safety. This was the fourth tragedy in Maine this year. Fires in Old Orchard, Sebago Lake, and Medway, also claimed the lives of family members.”

Aug 23, Daily News: “Waterville, Me., Aug. 23 A flash fire roared through a two story home here today and took the lives of five small children despite efforts of neighbors and their father to rescue them. The children, all-under seven, were found huddled on the second floor of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Vashon. “We heard them screaming. You could see their faces pushed against the window one minute during the fire,” Wardell Rancourt, a neighbor said. He and Randolph Michaud made futile attempts to rescue the children, as did their father. All three were forced back by flames “which poured out everywhere,” Rancourt said. The father suffered face and hand burns in trying to get upstairs before he was forced to run for his life.

“After firemen put out the fire four bodies were found on the floor and the fifth in bed. Rancourt said that at one time during the fire Michaud broke through a window. “The flames just pushed him back,” Rancourt said.

“The children’s mother was working at the Lockwood Textile Mill when the fire broke out. A medical examiner who viewed the bodies said the children all apparently died of smoke inhalation though some suffered burns.” (Daily News, Huntingdon, PA. “5 Small Children Perish in Blaze.” 8-23-1954, p. 10.)

AP, Aug 25: “Waterville (AP) – Five young brothers and sisters who perished in their fire-swept home here were buried today. Burial in St. Francis Cemetery followed a high mass of requiem at Notre Dame Church for the children of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Vachon. The children, trapped in a bedroom Monday [Aug 23], were Patricia, 7, Daniel, 6, Judith, 5, Stephen, 3, and Ann, 15 months. Their 27-year-old father was burned in his vain rescue effort.” (Biddeford Journal, ME. “Funeral Held for Victims of Fire.” 8-25-1954, p. 2.)

Sources

Biddeford Journal, ME. “Funeral Held for Victims of Fire.” 8-25-1954, p. 2. Accessed 2-10-2013: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=139021122&sterm=waterville+fire

Daily News, Huntingdon, PA. “5 Small Children Perish in Blaze.” 8-23-1954, p. 10. Accessed 2-10-2013: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=102275204&sterm=waterville+fire

Waterville Fire-Rescue, ME. “History 1941-1960.” Accessed 4-30-2023 at: http://www.watervillefire.com/history/history1960.html