Fires in Richmond Lumber Yards

These photos from the Finnegan Fire Collection document the destructive power of fire on the Richmond Lumber Yards.

Nothing burns better than wood, and over the years many Richmond lumber yards have gone up in smoke!
Here are a few graphic images from the Finnegan Fire Collection showing just how fierce these fires can be from the 1930s-1960s.


Flames Grip Lumber Yard
P.73.02.20, Finnegan Fire Collection
Richmond Newspapers, Inc. photograph
Sitterding, Carneal, Davis Lumber & Millwork Company
(Carver area), 1937


Flames Demolish Lumber Yard
P.73.02.31b, Finnegan Fire Collection
Richmond Newspapers, Inc. photograph
Ruffin & Payne (Barton Heights area), 1939


Fire from the Air  
P.73.02.42b, Finnegan Fire Collection
Dementi-Nolan Air Photo photograph
P.L. Lipscomb Lumber Company (Fulton area), 1941


Firemen Pour Water On Blazing Lumber Yard Near Boulevard Bridge
P.73.02.224, Finnegan Fire Collection
Richmond Newspapers, Inc. photograph
Transit Lumber Company (near the Boulevard Bridge), 1952


Armentrout Lumber Yard Fire
P.73.02.491c, Finnegan Fire Collection
Dressler Photo photograph
Armentrout Lumber Yard (Hermitage Road area), 1967


Laura Carr
Museum Technician
The Valentine