Wake up station explosion, August 14, 1969, approximately 8:25-9:25 PM

Description: This is a digitized recording of a dictabelt, which the Indianapolis Fire Department used to record dispatch calls during the 1960s and 1970s. Following are the calls on this dictabelt: 1) Engine 31 out of service, Truck 32 sent to fill in at Station 31. 2) John Matthews on the A shift at station 31 called to say he would be on station soon. 3) Caller asks dispatcher how many were dead. 4) Captain Patterson calls to ask who got hurt, 12 firemen and one fatality Charles Spanky Ends. Dispatcher informs Captain that the accident happened at the Wake Up station near 38th St & the Monon Tracks. 5) Mike Schmidt requests reports on injured, dispatcher does not know conditions. 6) Caller reports one tank of water used on a previous fire. 7) Caller asks if dispatcher talked to a kid from a firebox at Belmont and Michigan, sounded like a prank. 8) Rookie at fire academy heard about the accident (call inaudible). 9) Dispatcher calls Star office to let them know Chief Russell would call in the morning. 10) Second call reporting trouble at 255 W. Morris Street, transferred to police. 11) Charlie Grubb calls to ask who was killed. 12) Jane Whitten-Maxen of City Clerks office called to find out condition of firefighters responding to Wake Up Station fire, city council wondering who was hurt. 13) Man with heart attack 156 S. Elder Avenue. Engine 9 sent to respond with inhalator. 14) Second report of utility pole fire reported at corner of Southeastern Avenue and Prospect Street. 15) Officer Moody called to ask how many were injured on Wake Up Station explosion. Dispatcher says 12 injured one killed, his list is incomplete. 16) District car sent to 156 South Elder Avenue, possible heart attack. 17) Unconscious baby reported at 1139 Woodlawn Avenue. Squad 17 sent to respond.
Dictabelt
Origin: 1969-08-14
Source: http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/ffm/id/90347
Collection: Indianapolis Firefighters Museum
Copyright: Copyright Undetermined
Subjects: Kegeris, Edward C., 1928-1996
Emergency communication systems
Fire departments--Indiana--Indianapolis
Fires--Indiana--Indianapolis
Indianapolis (Ind.). Fire Department--History

Further information on this record can be found at its source.