Community Corner
90th Anniversary Of Woolworth Fire Will Be Marked With AFD Ceremony
The 1934 fire on South Broadway claimed the lives of three Aurora Fire Department firefighters as they worked to extinguish the flames.
AURORA, IL — Aurora firefighters will gather Thursday to mark the 90th anniversary of the Woolworth fire with a wreath-laying ceremony.
The fire that happened on Jan. 11, 1934, is the deadliest in Aurora Fire Department history.
Captains John Petersohn, 48, and Herbert L. Reiss, 37, along with 35-year-old firefighter Charles Hoffman were killed when part of the Woolworth building, located at 19-21 South Broadway, collapsed on them as they were working to extinguish the flames.
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To honor their lives, the fire department will host its annual ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the site of the fire, next to The Venue on South Broadway Avenue. Officials said the public is welcome to attend.
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