Sewer explosion, December 8, 1966

Dispatch call, December 8, 1966

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) Second alarm fire at explosions near 25th and Hillside, 18 apparatuses responding. 2) Caller requests information on what caused explosions, dispatcher does not know. 3) Dispatcher calls survey office and asks them to send staff with meters to location of explosions, every available man already on the way. 4) Ralph Taylor at Red Cross got a notification about 2 alarm fire, dispatcher informs him it was several explosions and asks him to get up to 25th and Hillside as soon as possible. 7) Discussion about what kind of apparatus is called automatically with second alarm fires. 9) Caller at office of board of safety asks what fire departments radio frequency is, heard about explosions and wanted more information. Dispatcher explains sewer gas causing explosions, second alarm set to have more firemen in the area as a precaution. 10) Strong odor of gas at 32nd and Baxter (?), 30th and Rosslyn, 32nd and Schofield. 11) Channel 8 news calls for information on explosions. 12) Furnace technician burning out a furnace, requests a fire truck to stand by at 253 S Dearborn. 13) Police requested at 25th and Station St. to assist district fire chiefs. 14) Extended discussion, coordinating response to explosions around the area north of the filling station at 25th and Sherman. 15) Caller asks if the fire was in a new construction building at 25th and Sherman, dispatcher has no information. 16) Caller asks if explosions will affect her at 21st and Sherman, dispatcher assures her sewer and gas are flowing north and her home should be fine. 17) Office of Civil Defense asks if theres any heavy equipment was needed, dispatcher asks him to take what he has and go see if he can help. 18) Car 1 asks for information on sewer flow. 19) Salvation Army calls to ask where the fire was, dispatcher informs him it was at25th and Hillside, gives direction. 20) Dispatcher informs off-duty fireman calling in that gas was spilled in the sewer and caused explosions within a mile radius, off-duty firemen are not needed. Recording ends at 4:15 PM. Dictabelt
Origin:	1966-12-08
Source:	http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/ffm/id/90506
Collection:	Indianapolis Firefighters Museum
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/;
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	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.