Wake up Station explosion, August 14, 1969, approximately 6:25 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) Dispatcher reports that eight firemen and two policemen were hurt and Chief is getting Ends wife. 2) Frank White called to check on nephew Jack White and Warren White, Warren had informed Frank he was injured. Dispatcher had reports of 6 firemen and two policemen hurt, no other reports. 3) Mike Brothers called with a list of injured firemen and condition: James Keith of 31s, satisfactory, Gerald Weir, fair condition, Jack Dowden, (call interrupted) 4) Caller asks how many firemen hurt. 5) Brothers continues report: Spanky Ends and Ray Clegg were badly injured. Mike Baskerville rode an ambulance up, but others were in serious condition. 7) Retired fireman Jim asks who was injured. Dispatcher informs him Spanky Ends is not expected to make it, no others Jim would know except John Mertes and James Keith. Discussion about 1925 stockyard fire. 8) Calls from press looking for information, dispatcher informed them he could not make any statements. 9) Injured fireman Dowden called to ask if someone would come get him at Methodist Hospital. Dispatcher sending someone. 10) Caller asking what station dead fireman was from, Station 38. 11) Caller reports woman having miscarriage at 8330 East 41st, ambulance sent. 12) Mike Smith of Indy Star asking if firemen were hurt at Wake Up station, dispatcher cannot release names yet. 13) Keller called for home addresses for firemen who were hurt. 14) Mrs. Jack White called to ask if her husband was ok, dispatcher says he is in fair condition at the hospital and someone is coming to pick her up. 15) George Casey called to ask who died. 16) Mike Smith of Indianapolis Star called again to ask if names have been released, just Charles Ends who was killed. All other firemen fair, satisfactory, and good condition. 17) Another caller asking about fire at 38th and Guilford, 10 injured and 1 fatality.
Dictabelt
Origin: 1969-08-14
Source: http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/ffm/id/90360
Collection: Indianapolis Firefighters Museum
Copyright: Copyright Undetermined
Subjects: Dowden, Jack F.
Keith, James A., 1931-2013
Mertes, John R., 1935-2006
Ends, Charles R., 1935-1969
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.