FERNIE IN ASHES
the Great Fire of 1908
“
Fernie will rebuild. Fernie is
populated by a people that is possessed
with that indomitable western spirit
that knows no such thing as failure,
but continually follows the loadstone
of success. Although there have been
many distressing incidents, many
losses, and many sorrowful cases of
family distress, yet all will arise to the
emergency presented and come out
stronger and better than ever.
”
- Fernie Will Rise Again,
The Cranbrook Herald, August 13, 1908
The Great Fire of 1908 was a dramatic,
defining moment for Fernie that saw
the community obliterated by fire in
less than 90 minutes on August 1st,
1908. The fire claimed no lives, but
the property loss was valued at over $5
million dollars, a staggering amount at
the time. It was the second major fire
in four years. In 1904, a fire destroyed
much of Fernie’s commercial core and
led to the incorporation of the City of
Fernie and the formation of the Fernie
Fire Department.
The efforts of the firemen were no
match for the 1908 firestorm; they
surrendered where The Brickhouse Bar
is today. People fled for the river. A
Great Northern train passing through
Fernie rescued many and took them to
Hosmer. Surprisingly, over 16 homes
survived, all at the far west end of
Fernie. The Crow’s Nest Pass Coal
Co. offices (Fernie’s City Hall today)
also survived and became the place
where refugees from the fire could
obtain food and clothing. Nearby towns
offered shelter, and supplies came from
across Canada.
Reconstruction of the town quickly
began and was largely completed by
1910. A number of the buildings were
built from locally produced yellow brick.
Many of the buildings seen today along
Victoria (2nd) Avenue were restored
in the 1980s with the assistance of
provincial grants.
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