Three Hurt In Early Morning Blaze
Three firemen were injured, a fourth narrowly escaped being trapped, and damage estimated at from $20,000 to $25,000 resulted early this morning when flames gutted the second floor and damaged the first floor of the Eskil building on East Hughitt street. The Archie Studio, on the second floor, and Nelson's market, on the first, bore the brunt of the damage. Injured were firemen Jack Rahoi, who suffered burns about the head and face and cuts and burns on both hands; Theodore Hallman, burned about the head, face and hands, and Harry Person, burned on the face and one ear.
They were injured when they were caught in a sheet of flame and blown down the stairs leading to Archie's studio on the second floor of the building. The sudden burst of flame came when approximately 2,000 pounds of photographic film exploded.
As the firemen tumbled from the building, a column of flame more than 100 feet high shot from the roof, followed by a billowing puff of yellow smoke. Fireman Alphonse Fuse, playing a hose on the flames from the rear of the second floor, was knocked
down by the blast and momentarily stunned, but escaped without injury.
Firemen fought the blaze for more than three hours. At times five streams of water were pouring into the blazing structure. Spread Rapidly Discovered shortly before
4 a.m. today, the fire had spread between the partitions of the 50-year-old building before an alarm was telephoned to the fire department. The blaze apparently started
in the rear of Nelson's Food mart in the first floor, and spread to the second floor photographic studio. A few minutes after the flames were discovered, thick,
yellow smoke poured from the building as celluloid films in the studio ignited.
Fumes from the burning film drove firemen from the building after a few minutes,
and they were replaced by others wearing gas masks. Hallman and Rahoi were
wearing masks, and without helmets when they were caught and burned in the blast
of film. Dave Archie, proprietor of the studio, said there was from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of film and negatives stored in the two rear rooms of the second floor. He estimates
his loss at $5,000.
Grocery stock was a complete loss and fixtures were damaged by both fire and water
in the Nelson market. Damage there was estimated at from $4,000 to $6,000.
Loss to the building, owned by J.J. Eskil, was estimated at $15,000. Archie had worked in the studio until about 11 last night, and everything appeared in order when he left the building, he said.
Blaze Discovered
The blaze was discovered by a patron at Happy's Lunch, a few doors west on Hughitt, who smelled smoke. Investigation showed it was coming from the Eskil building, and an alarm was sent in. As firemen broke glass in the doors to enter, dense smoke poured from the building.
At first the blaze appeared to be confined to the rear of the market and studio, but spread rapidly until the interior of the second floor glowed red beneath the heavy smoke. As flames ate into the negative storage rooms, the heat became intense. Suddenly there was a dull roar as the films exploded. Archie explained that of the 23,000 old orders stored in the studio, most of them were old-style, explosive film.
Non-explosive film was not developed until recent years. Rahoi and Hallman were thrown from the head of the]stairs into the street by the force of the blast.
In the rear of the building, Fuse was heard to call for help, but he staggered to a second floor gallery unaided as other firemen rushed to his assistance. Rahoi and Hallman were taken to the General hospital for treatment of first and second degree burns, and released. The Knights of Pythias club rooms in the adjoining building were damaged by smoke, but no estimate of the damage was available. Also damaged by smoke were the Sward billiard parlor and the Sanitary laundry. Loss on the Eskil building and stock and equipment in the Nelson [market] and Archie studio was partially covered by insurance. The Iron Mountain News, Iron Mountain, Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume 21, Number 38 [Saturday, May 24, 1941], page 2, column 1

Fire Breaks Out Again at Studio
Fire broke out anew, for a short time yesterday morning, at the Archie Studio in the Eskil building, East Hughitt street, where damage estimated at $20,000 resulted in an early-morning blaze Saturday. Firemen extinguished the second blaze in about 30 minutes, after it was discovered by a watchman. The fire was believed to have been caused by a spark which was fanned into flames by a brisk wind. No additional damage was done. Fire Chief Mike Scolatti today said he believed the Saturday fire started in a rear room in the Nelson market.
Flames had spread through the partitions to the second floor studio before firemen arrived.
Firemen Jack Rahoi, Theodore Hallman and Harry Person were back on duty yesterday and today, swathed in bandages. Hallman, the most seriously burned, and Rahoi were blown down the stairway form the studio when nearly a ton of photographic film stored in the studio exploded. Hallman suffered burns on the head and face; Rahoi was burned about the face, neck and hands, and Person was burned on the face, neck and ears. (Compiled by William Cummins)

Michigan Births, 1867-1902
Jack Rahoi. Birth 11 Jul 1902
Birthplace Iron Mountain, Dickinson, Michigan
Father Philip Rahoi. Birthplace: Austria
Mother Ursula Rahoi. Birthplace: Austria

United States Census, 1910
Iron Mountain Ward 1, Dickinson, Michigan
Jack Rahaj. Age 8. Race White. Birth 1902
Relationship to Head of Household Son
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Filop Rahaj Head Male 40 Austria
Orsola Rahaj Wife Female 36 Austria
Christina Rahaj Daughter Female 15 Michigan
Filop Rahaj Son Male 14 Michigan
Orben Rahaj Son Male 13 Michigan
Annie Rahaj Daughter Female 12 Michigan
George Rahaj Son Male 9 Michigan
Kattie Rahaj Daughter Female 9 Michigan
Jack Rahaj Son Male 8 Michigan
Mary Rahaj Daughter Female 6 Michigan
Falton Rahaj Son Male 4 Michigan
Alma Rahaj Daughter Female 2 Michigan

United States Census, 1920
Dickinson, Michigan
John Rahoi. Age 17
Relationship to Head of Household Son
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Philip Rahoi Head Male 52 Austria
Alma Rahoi Wife Female 47 Austria
Irvin Rahoi Son Male 22 Michigan
Anna Rahoi Daughter Female 21 Michigan
George Rahoi Son Male 18 Michigan
Kate Rahoi Daughter Female 18 Michigan
John Rahoi Son Male 17 Michigan
Mary Rahoi Daughter Female 15 Michigan
Valentine Rahoi Son Male 13 Michigan
Alma Rahoi Daughter Female 11 Michigan
Louise Rahoi Daughter Female 6 Michigan
Walter Rahoi Son Male 2 Michigan

United States Census, 1930
Iron Mountain, Dickinson, Michigan
John Rahoi. Age 27. Married
Relationship to Head of Household Son
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Philip Rahoi Head Male 61 Czechoslovakia
Alma Rahoi Wife Female 57 Czechoslovakia
Anna Rahoi Daughter Female 31 Czechoslovakia
Mary Rahoi Daughter Female 26 Michigan
Walter Rahoi Son Male 12 Michigan
Otto Tutas Son-in-law Male 31 Wisconsin
Catherine Tutas Daughter Female 28 Michigan
John Rahoi Son Male 27 Michigan
Marion Rahoi Daughter-in-law Female 21 Yugoslavia
Marilyn Rahoi Granddaughter Female 2 Wisconsin

United States Census, 1940
Ward 5, Iron Mountain, Dickinson, Michigan
Jack Rahoi. Age 37. Married
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Jack Rahoi Head Male 37 Michigan
Mary Elizabeth Rahoi Wife Female 32 Minnesota
Marilyn Rahoi Daughter Female 12 Michigan
Jack Milton Rahoi Son Male 5 Michigan

Michigan Death Index, 1971-1996
Death 16 Nov 1985
Iron Mountain, Dickinson, Michigan
Jack Rahoi. Birth 11 July 02

[Researched by Karlene Hall]