1960 — July 18, Propane gas explosion/fire, J.C. Penney Co. Dept. Store, Merrill, WI — 10
–10 NFPA. “Large Loss of Life Fires of 1960.” NFPA Quarterly, 54/3, Jan 1961, p. 265.
–10 National Fire Protection Association. Spreadsheet of 10+ Fatality Fires, as of 3-15-2013.
–10 Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “10th Blast Victim Dies at Merrill.” 8-15-1960, p. 7.
— 9 Capital Times, Madison, WI. “Merrill Store Manager Dies; 9th Blast Victim.” 7-28-1960, 7.
Narrative Information
NFPA: “J.C. Penney Company, Merrill, Wis., July 18, 2:05 P.M., 10 Killed: 9 adults, 1 Child.
“In addition to the 5 customers and 5 employees killed, 10 others were seriously injured when a gas explosion demolished the mostly 1-story and basement, 50-foot by 120-foot department store. The masonry walls were blown outward by the blast and the wood-joisted roof fell to the first floor, trapping people in the basement. Fire, which broke out in about 3 to 4 minutes, was controlled within an hour.
“The former building on the same site had been destroyed in 1951 by a gas explosion that was caused when a gas pipe inside the building was broken by a swinging door. After that incident, the end of the lateral supply pipe from the 3-inch distribution main in an alley at the rear of the store was capped about two feet from the basement wall. Even though there was no gas service to the department store, propane gas leaking from the underground main is believed to have entered and accumulated in the basement of the building. It is believed that one or more lateral supply lines were damaged during grading of a nearby parking lot located in an area where a dwelling had been razed, thus causing the leaks.” (NFPA. “Large Loss of Life Fires of 1960.” NFPA Quarterly, 54/3, Jan 1961, p. 265.)
Newspapers
July 18: “Merrill – A violent explosion at the J. C. Penney Co. department store here Monday afternoon killed eight persons and injured at least 13 others. Rescue crewmen continued sifting through the rubble today to determine whether other bodies might be hidden in the wreckage as L. S. Statz and John McHale of the State Industrial Commission began an investigation into the cause of the blast.
“The known dead were
Einar Seger, 55, a customer in the store and former Merrill city clerk;
Mrs. Louis Hamilton [Merrill employee],
Mrs. Geraldine Wissen [Merrill employee], and
Mrs. Lawrence Borchardt, all employes;
Mrs. George Erickson and her mother
Mrs. Amanda Evans, and
Mrs. Carl Yorde and
her 12-year-old son [David], all customers from Merrill.
“….The blast occurred on the same site where an explosion ripped through an A & P food store July 12, 1952, permanently crippling the building owner.
“The 1952 explosion was blamed on an accumulation of gas in an adjoining building. Officials of the Merrill city gas utility said the Penney explosion Monday “could not possibly” have been caused by a gas leak. They said none of their pipes are connected to the building. An insurance adjuster, however, said he was told gas leaks were found under the street nearby.
“H. L. Wright of Minneapolis, zone manager for the Penney Co., inspected the damage today and set the monetary loss at one-half million dollars.
“Some 50 rescue crewmen searched the hot rubble through the night in their search for possible victims. A huge crane was used to lift away the wreckage. Five of the victims were killed instantly and their bodies were taken from the debris early Monday night. Seger died shortly after being admitted to the Holy Cross Hospital. The bodies of Mrs. Yorde and her son were recovered early today.
“Fire Chief Arnold Wessel said his men would not rest until every inch of the building was covered to eliminate any chance of overlooking anyone who might have been trapped. The work today was slowed by six feet of water in the basement of the building.
“The explosion pushed out the walls of the store, caved in the roof and plunged the store’s first floor into the basement. A searing fire broke out about five or ten minutes later….
“Rescue workers pulled a dozen persons from the wreckage before the fire broke out. After that, dense smoke and heat forced the rescuers back. Dick Wilson, 23, and Robert Kjeli, 35, both of Merrill, were across the street when the explosion occurred. “The fire didn’t come right away,” Wilson said, “That was about five or ten minutes later. We climbed onto the roof and carried a woman and her little girl to safety. I could hear the other women inside crying for help, I looked down and I saw two of them. They were bleeding. “We started for them but then the fire came. We couldn’t do it. We couldn’t get to them. We had to go.”….
“LeRoy O. Johnson, 38, Merrill, store manager, was the most seriously injured of those in the hospital today. He received burns over 70 per cent of his body and was in “very critical” condition…..
“Firemen from Merrill, Wausau, Rhinelander and Tomahawk kept the fire from spreading to the seven other stores in the same block. They poured tons of water on a 1,000 gallon fuel tank in the basement to avert a second explosion….” (Capital Times, Madison, WI. “8 Killed in Merrill Blast.” 7-19-1960, pp. 1 and 4.)
July 20: “Merrill…. Here is what investigators found: About 75 feet north of the Penney store, workmen dug up an old, unused gas lateral. At the point where that lateral led to a home the gas was leaking freely. In fact, as they uncovered the jolted lateral, the escaping gas threw sand into the air. Then they found leaks in the gas main through the alley. This main was only about 10 feet from the Penney store. ‘The only thing we know is that gas could have gone through the soil,’ [Fire] Chief Wessel said. Further checks showed traces through most of the business block in which the Penney store was located.
“The lateral ran from the main in back of the Penney store. This formerly served a residential home, which early this spring was demolished. Only a few days before the blast and fire the area
was black topped, possibly sealing in the escaping gas. The area was being used for a parking lot for a gas station.
“Officials also dug up an old gas line which went to the building formerly at the location of the Penney store. They found that gas line sealed.
“Along with the official investigation of the cause of the blast, the Merrill Gas Co. also was conducting an investigation….Meanwhile, gas continued to flow through the mains as all investigators made an effort to trace it….
“Ten of the injured were still in Holy Cross hospital at Merrill. The condition of three was described as critical. Store manager LeRoy Johnson was one of the most seriously burned. He had burns over 70 per cent of his body.” (Capital Times, Madison, WI. “Gas Now Eyed as Blast Cause.” 7-20-1960, pp. 1 and 2.)
July 28: “Merrill (AP) – The manager of the J. C. Penney Co. store today became the ninth victim of a blast which ripped the building apart and set it afire July 18. Leroy Johnson, 38, died in Holy Cross Hospital at 3:15 a.m. today of burns and injuries suffered in the explosion. Eight others died the day of the blast….” (Capital Times, Madison, WI. “Merrill Store Manager Dies; 9th Blast Victim.” 7-28-1960, p. 7.)
August 13: “Merrill (UPI) — The July 18 gas explosion which leveled this city’s J. C. Penney Department Store Saturday [13th] claimed its 10th victim. Mrs. Galen Rossiter, 42, Merrill, a store employee, died at a Merrill hospital late Saturday afternoon of burns and injures received in the blast. One other person, Mrs. Franklin Brandenburg, 39, Merrill, also a store employee, remains hospitalized with injuries received in the blast….” (Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “10th Blast Victim Dies at Merrill.” 8-15-1960, p. 7.)
Sources
Capital Times, Madison, WI. “8 Killed in Merrill Blast.” 7-19-1960, pp. 1 and 4. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=99784815&sterm=merrill+penney+store
Capital Times, Madison, WI. “Merrill Store Manager Dies; 9th Blast Victim.” 7-28-1960, p. 7. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=99785108&sterm=merrill+penney
National Fire Protection Association. “Large Loss of Life Fires of 1960.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 54, No. 3, January 1961, pp. 233-268.
National Fire Protection Association. Spreadsheet of 10+ Fatality Fires, as of 3-15-2013. Email attachment to Wayne Blanchard.
Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “10th Blast Victim Dies at Merrill.” 8-15-1960, p. 7. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=100789469&sterm=merrill
Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Gas Now Eyed as Blast Cause.” 7-20-1960, pp. 1 and 2. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=100788534&sterm=merrill+penney