Thirty-Five Years On: The Day NT's Salvation Army Burned, Forging Local Lore

North Tonawanda – Thirty-five years ago this week, on August 4th, 1990, a seemingly ordinary Saturday morning in the city of NT was shattered by a blaze that would not only engulf a historic landmark but also etch itself into the annals of the NT Fire Department's lore and the collective memory of the community: the devastating "Salvation Army Fire" on Webster Street.

The day began routinely for Firefighter Dave Schmidt, working his rotation in the NTFD Dispatch "Hole." It was a business line call that first signalled trouble. From Bob's Sew and Vac, also on Webster Street, a voice casually reported, "Hey, I'm sure you guys already know about this, but I see flames coming from the Salvation Army on Webster Street."

FF Schmidt, somewhat caught off guard by the lack of any prior alarms, quickly responded, "No, Sir, we haven't had any calls yet!" The caller's tone instantly shifted from calm to sheer panic. "WHAT??? YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS! THE SALVATION ARMY IS ON FIRE!" he shouted, the urgency palpable even over the phone line.

Without a moment's hesitation, FF Schmidt sprang into action. He immediately set up Box 51 – the designated run card for Webster Street – on the venerable Gamewell system and punched it through. Across the city, all NTFD stations watched as the joker tape punched out the ominous indicating Box 51, followed by the blaring tones and the urgent announcement over the radio, signaling a major incident was unfolding.

As fire apparatus roared to life, NTPD Officer Jimmy Fox was the first to arrive on the scene. His radio transmission to NTPD Dispatch cut through the air with a chilling urgency: "Tell the Fire Department, whatever they are sending...... it isn't enough!" His words painted a clear picture of the inferno already gripping the building.

Very shortly after, the calm voice of Firefighter Don French from Engine 4 keyed the microphone. His report, while brief, conveyed the full gravity of the situation to every responding unit and dispatcher: "Engine 4 will be laying in the big lines."

Nothing else needed to be said. To the seasoned veterans and recruits alike, French's concise declaration immediately communicated the immense scope and severity of the blaze. It meant a building heavily involved, requiring maximum water flow and a full-scale, aggressive attack – a seemingly insurmountable task that French and his crew were already preparing to tackle head-on.

The "Salvation Army Fire" has since gone down not only in NTFD lore but in the historical context of the City of NT itself. It stands as a testament to the unpredictable nature of emergency calls and the cool, calm, and collected professionalism of those who respond. FF Don French's understated yet powerful transmission remains a prime example of leadership and clarity under extreme duress.

Thirty-five years may have passed, but for anyone who has been around NT for a while, the memory of that Saturday morning in August of 1990, when the old Salvation Army store on Webster Street burned, remains vivid. Many can recall precisely where they were and what they were doing when the news spread.

We invite you to share your memories and reflections on this pivotal moment in NT's history in the comments below.