Plymouth Congregational Church
February 25, 1971
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Plymouth Congregational Church completed March 18, 1877 in the Norman Gothic architectural style, with its six-story spire dominated the Lansing skyline for 90 years. Although the building was constructed out of stone and brick the floor joists were wood covered with a wood inlay. The roof supports were also made of wood as well as being sheathed with wood. |
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At 12:43 pm on Thursday, February 25, 1971, a call was received by the Lansing Fire Department reporting heavy smoke in the basement of Plymouth Congregational Church. Within minutes after arriving Deputy Fire Chief Robert Kennedy requested further assistance, the blaze is now a three-alarm fire. |
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Deputy Chief Kennedy, Captain Hinman, Lt. Miller and Lt. Zerkle, along with Firemen Jensen and Devlin enter the building with a fire hose; moments later the floor collapsed without warning - hurling them into the basement. |
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Deputy Chief Kennedy, hanging from the door ledge, attracted help and a rescue team of police, fire, reporters and bystanders pulled the firemen to safety. |
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With Kennedy hospitalized and the main floor destroyed, acting Chief Donald Burnett ordered all firemen out of the building. Burnett orders five alarms struck, six more special alarms were stuck, 11 engine companies, 3 aerial trucks and 150 firemen are now on the scene to fight the fire. A Mutual Aid call was also issued to the surrounding communities. |
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At 2:30 the roof of the church buckled inward, at 3:06 the six-story steeple collapsed into the street. It would take twelve more hours, 900,000 gallons of water and the work of 150 firemen to extinguish the blaze. The losses were put at $1,200,000. The fire was cause by an incorrectly installed light bulb in a basement storage room. |
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An overhead drawing of the fire ground. |
