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Raging fire destroys historic Fire Chief's Memorial in Norristown

By and FOX 29 Staff
Updated  August 29, 2024 6:25am EDT
Montgomery County
FOX 29 Philadelphia

Historic Norristown Fire Chief's Memorial badly burned in fire

Norristown fire crews and the community hope to salvage the historic Fire Chief's Memorial after two separate fires nearly wipe the building out.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. - An early morning fire in Norristown damaged a memorial important to the fire service in town and raised questions about the fire’s origins.

Video shot by FOX 29 shows fire burning along the roofline of the revered Fire Chief’s Memorial in Norristown’s Elmwood Park. The early morning flames tore at the roof of the structure and at the heartstrings of the fire community.

Deputy Fire Chief Richard Lockhart said the structure is important to firefighters in this community, "This building was built in 1936 as recognition from the community for the fire department and fire chiefs."

Investigators say the trouble began at 11:30 Tuesday night with a fire in a trash can at the back of the memorial. It was extinguished, but around 1:40 Wednesday morning, fire crews returned to find two portable restrooms up against the back of the memorial burning.

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Deputy Chief Lockhart said, "Unfortunately, the fire got under the roof, took control and by the time the companies got here the fire had gotten into the attic and the second floor."

Fire crews battled the flames with the help of images produced by a newly acquired drone first used Tuesday night. They dropped water from above, but by daylight, the roof was nearly burned away, with windows broken and the walls stained with soot.

Debbie Greenwald, a parent-coach for young children, came to Elmwood Park as a child. She said, "I noticed that as I pulled up. First, I saw some of the police and the fire trucks. I looked and I thought maybe it was hit by lightning, but I hear it’s a fire and I just have questions."

The fire department salvaged plaques listing the 20 fire chiefs, nearly all volunteers, who’ve served Norristown, and look forward to the day the memorial, home to ceremonies and summer concerts, will rise again.

Norristown Fire Captain Tony Barbato said, "The hope is that there’s a lot of people in the community who’ve told us we’re going to rebuild so that’s encouraging. I think we can save the building."