Michigan Fires Claim 7 lives; Damage Costly, Toll of Kalamazoo Explosion Flames Increased to Six
Seven persons lost their lives yesterday in a series of Michigan fires which caused an estimated $265,000 damage.
Most serious of the blazes was that at Kalamazoo in which six members of the family of Donald Abbey Sr. died when an explosion and fire destroyed their home.
Dead in the Kalamazoo blaze are: Abbey, a war worker and five of his eight children: Eugene, five; Mary Anne, Three; Diana, two, Donald Jr. 11 and Lawrence 5 months. A sixth child, Shirley, four was burned severely, while the remaining two were not at home at the time of the blaze.
Fire officials said the explosion came when Donald Jr. pored kerosene on a fire in the kitchen stove in an attempt to speed it up. The blast transformed the dwelling into an inferno trapping the family.
Abbey, his wife, Donald and Shirley escaped from the house, but the others died in the building, Abbey and Donald died several hours later in Bronson hospital.
Mrs. Abbey, who was upstairs at the time of the explosion, escaped injury.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 12, May 11, 1945
Four Kalamazoo Children Die in Explosion, Fire
Four children, all under six years of age, were burned to death and two other are in critical condition at the hospital as the result of a kerosene explosion at their home at noon today.
Mrs. Donald Abbey, the mother, was giving the three youngest children a bath in a kitchen tub while preparing the noon day meal. She was out of the room for a few minutes on an errand when one of the other children placed a can of kerosene on the hot stove.
The blind explosion that followed scattered faming liquid throughout the room turning it instantly into a fiery furnace, Donald, 12, ran screaming to his mother for help, but by that time the fames had reached the kitchen door and she was driven back after she pulled Sharon, four , to safety.
Donald suffered third degree burns, Ruth, 9, and James , 7, were in school at the time. The interior of the house was destroyed.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 1, May 10, 1945
Plans were being formulated today for a joint funeral service for Donald D. Abbey and five of his children, who lost their lives when fire swept their home Thursday. Fire officials said the blaze was caused when on the children poured kerosene on a stove.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 10, May 12, 1945
Seven persons lost their lives yesterday in a series of Michigan fires which caused an estimated $265,000 damage.
Most serious of the blazes was that at Kalamazoo in which six members of the family of Donald Abbey Sr. died when an explosion and fire destroyed their home.
Dead in the Kalamazoo blaze are: Abbey, a war worker and five of his eight children: Eugene, five; Mary Anne, Three; Diana, two, Donald Jr. 11 and Lawrence 5 months. A sixth child, Shirley, four was burned severely, while the remaining two were not at home at the time of the blaze.
Fire officials said the explosion came when Donald Jr. pored kerosene on a fire in the kitchen stove in an attempt to speed it up. The blast transformed the dwelling into an inferno trapping the family.
Abbey, his wife, Donald and Shirley escaped from the house, but the others died in the building, Abbey and Donald died several hours later in Bronson hospital.
Mrs. Abbey, who was upstairs at the time of the explosion, escaped injury.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 12, May 11, 1945
Four Kalamazoo Children Die in Explosion, Fire
Four children, all under six years of age, were burned to death and two other are in critical condition at the hospital as the result of a kerosene explosion at their home at noon today.
Mrs. Donald Abbey, the mother, was giving the three youngest children a bath in a kitchen tub while preparing the noon day meal. She was out of the room for a few minutes on an errand when one of the other children placed a can of kerosene on the hot stove.
The blind explosion that followed scattered faming liquid throughout the room turning it instantly into a fiery furnace, Donald, 12, ran screaming to his mother for help, but by that time the fames had reached the kitchen door and she was driven back after she pulled Sharon, four , to safety.
Donald suffered third degree burns, Ruth, 9, and James , 7, were in school at the time. The interior of the house was destroyed.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 1, May 10, 1945
Plans were being formulated today for a joint funeral service for Donald D. Abbey and five of his children, who lost their lives when fire swept their home Thursday. Fire officials said the blaze was caused when on the children poured kerosene on a stove.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 10, May 12, 1945
Michigan Fires Claim 7 lives; Damage Costly, Toll of Kalamazoo Explosion Flames Increased to Six
Seven persons lost their lives yesterday in a series of Michigan fires which caused an estimated $265,000 damage.
Most serious of the blazes was that at Kalamazoo in which six members of the family of Donald Abbey Sr. died when an explosion and fire destroyed their home.
Dead in the Kalamazoo blaze are: Abbey, a war worker and five of his eight children: Eugene, five; Mary Anne, Three; Diana, two, Donald Jr. 11 and Lawrence 5 months. A sixth child, Shirley, four was burned severely, while the remaining two were not at home at the time of the blaze.
Fire officials said the explosion came when Donald Jr. pored kerosene on a fire in the kitchen stove in an attempt to speed it up. The blast transformed the dwelling into an inferno trapping the family.
Abbey, his wife, Donald and Shirley escaped from the house, but the others died in the building, Abbey and Donald died several hours later in Bronson hospital.
Mrs. Abbey, who was upstairs at the time of the explosion, escaped injury.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 12, May 11, 1945
Four Kalamazoo Children Die in Explosion, Fire
Four children, all under six years of age, were burned to death and two other are in critical condition at the hospital as the result of a kerosene explosion at their home at noon today.
Mrs. Donald Abbey, the mother, was giving the three youngest children a bath in a kitchen tub while preparing the noon day meal. She was out of the room for a few minutes on an errand when one of the other children placed a can of kerosene on the hot stove.
The blind explosion that followed scattered faming liquid throughout the room turning it instantly into a fiery furnace, Donald, 12, ran screaming to his mother for help, but by that time the fames had reached the kitchen door and she was driven back after she pulled Sharon, four , to safety.
Donald suffered third degree burns, Ruth, 9, and James , 7, were in school at the time. The interior of the house was destroyed.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 1, May 10, 1945
Plans were being formulated today for a joint funeral service for Donald D. Abbey and five of his children, who lost their lives when fire swept their home Thursday. Fire officials said the blaze was caused when on the children poured kerosene on a stove.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 10, May 12, 1945
Seven persons lost their lives yesterday in a series of Michigan fires which caused an estimated $265,000 damage.
Most serious of the blazes was that at Kalamazoo in which six members of the family of Donald Abbey Sr. died when an explosion and fire destroyed their home.
Dead in the Kalamazoo blaze are: Abbey, a war worker and five of his eight children: Eugene, five; Mary Anne, Three; Diana, two, Donald Jr. 11 and Lawrence 5 months. A sixth child, Shirley, four was burned severely, while the remaining two were not at home at the time of the blaze.
Fire officials said the explosion came when Donald Jr. pored kerosene on a fire in the kitchen stove in an attempt to speed it up. The blast transformed the dwelling into an inferno trapping the family.
Abbey, his wife, Donald and Shirley escaped from the house, but the others died in the building, Abbey and Donald died several hours later in Bronson hospital.
Mrs. Abbey, who was upstairs at the time of the explosion, escaped injury.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 12, May 11, 1945
Four Kalamazoo Children Die in Explosion, Fire
Four children, all under six years of age, were burned to death and two other are in critical condition at the hospital as the result of a kerosene explosion at their home at noon today.
Mrs. Donald Abbey, the mother, was giving the three youngest children a bath in a kitchen tub while preparing the noon day meal. She was out of the room for a few minutes on an errand when one of the other children placed a can of kerosene on the hot stove.
The blind explosion that followed scattered faming liquid throughout the room turning it instantly into a fiery furnace, Donald, 12, ran screaming to his mother for help, but by that time the fames had reached the kitchen door and she was driven back after she pulled Sharon, four , to safety.
Donald suffered third degree burns, Ruth, 9, and James , 7, were in school at the time. The interior of the house was destroyed.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 1, May 10, 1945
Plans were being formulated today for a joint funeral service for Donald D. Abbey and five of his children, who lost their lives when fire swept their home Thursday. Fire officials said the blaze was caused when on the children poured kerosene on a stove.
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI pg. 10, May 12, 1945
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