1997 Security Building fire

The Security Building was constructed in 1890 by a man named George Clifford. Its pink color made it unique to Grand Forks downtown. During the building's early days, it housed businesses such as the Northwestern college of commerce, an architect's office, the Knights of Pythias, Wholesaler C.H. Robinson, UND school of law, the YMCA, and early Grand Forks city offices and federal courts. At the time of its demise the building contained a Barber shop as well as a boxing organization. In 1997, a major flood in Grand Forks caused devastation in the town; during the flood, a catastrophic fire started in the Security Building and spread to 11 other downtown buildings, causing incredible damage. How did the fire start and what actions were taken to fight the horrible fire that caused the demise of many buildings in downtown Grand Forks?

In April of 1997 the Red River in Grand Forks was flooded, causing immense damage to the homes and livelihoods of Grand Forks residents. Uncommon Heroes: The City of Grand Forks Flood Fight by Kimberly Porter and Laurel Reuter explains that dikes were formed as well as other precautions to help stop the flood, but no matter what prevention techniques used, the water was overpowering. Citizens, taking in the evacuation warnings, decided that their homes weren’t as important as their safety and they took to staying at friends and families houses away from the flood. One testimony talks about the community coming together to help one another. “And what was incredible about that too was that people were just, volunteers were just walking up and down the street asking us if we needed help."^[1] Come Hell and High Water: The Incredible Story of the 1997 Red River Flood by Ryan Bakken talks about how on April 19th at around 4pm a fire broke out in the Security Building downtown. The battalion chief, Anderson said, “Even though everything was terrible because of the flood, you at least believed that the worst that could possibly happen had already happened. It hadn’t. That really sets you back.”^[2] At the start of the fire, the firefighters couldn’t even focus on the breakout due to having to evacuate 40 plus civilians from surrounding apartments who hadn’t evacuated yet.  

After the surrounding civilians and those in the building were evacuated, firefighters began the battle to put out the fire. The surrounding buildings were not located right next to the Security Building, a fire ember the size of a football it was noted flew onto the roof of a surrounding building, causing the fire to spread. First, they attached their hoses to the fire hydrants in the area, going through every hydrant on that block. Battalion Chief Roed suggested a chemical retardant drop which occurred at about 7-8 o’clock, about three hours after the fire had started. Around the same time, due to the water, the trucks were having a hard time maneuvering. The airport offered its services. Dropping water from one of their taller trucks. Shortly before midnight, the airport truck as well as an Air Force truck that joined later were working well. After putting the firetrucks-that were having a hard time due to the 4 feet of water on the ground causing hypothermia to about 4 firefighters-on flatbeds; they were finally able to get water on the fire from the trucks. At 3 or 4 o’clock, the fire was somewhat contained, not spreading to any more buildings. And at first light they had it mostly under control.^[3] During the fire, 8 helicopters also helped by dumping buckets of water at more targeted areas, a total of 60 drops of 2,000 gallons each finally put the fire out the next day. The fire was caused by an electrical problem triggered by the flood.^[4]  

The citizens of downtown Grand Forks were devastated. Not only because of the horrible flood, but also because of the fire that caused immense damage to 11 buildings. In Behind the Scenes: Leadership and Decision-Making in a Natural Disaster, Eliot Glassheim explains that the search started for all the citizens living there, at one point search dogs as well as cadaver dogs were released to help the search. It took two weeks to determine that everyone that lived there was accounted for. To the surprise and elation of those searching, no one was lost. Afterwards personal accounts were shared of the fire from the citizens that stayed despite the evacuation notice until the fire started. Hulst shared “What scared us out is the fire,” she said. “It kept going. All we saw was the fire shooting up. Sparks were flying everywhere.” even the firefighters described it as “unreal, beyond my wildest imagination.”^[5] Although the damage was catastrophic, not all hope was lost for Grand Forks. Everyone made it out alive as far as the search and rescue could discern and eventually Grand Forks downtown would renovate and become home for many once again.  

After the 1997 flood, construction of a massive flood protection project was put in place to prevent such a disaster from ever occurring again. The incoming 2016 mayor said, “I probably have about as much worry about the repeat, massive flood through our community as I (worry about) a piano falling on my head.”^[6] “Flood Protection System Gives Grand Forks Security, but Expert Says Flooding Is a Possibility” by John Hageman says the project proved useful, historically high river crests have been quelled due to the new implementation of the flood protection protocols. The flood protection was built to withstand another 1997 flood as well as unpredictable outcomes such as waves and ice blockages. Although it is physically possible for Grand Forks to flood again, the likelihood is severely diminished. People in Grand Forks have moved past that tragic event and rebuilt their lives, feeling comfortable in the new Grand Forks that has withheld strongly throughout the past 30 years.   

^[1] Porter, Kimberly K., and Laurel Reuter. Uncommon Heroes: The City of Grand Forks Flood Fight, 1997. North Dakota Museum of Art, 2001. 

^[2] Bakken, Ryan. Come Hell and High Water: The Incredible Story of the 1997 Red River Flood. Grand Forks Herald, 1997. 

^[3] Glassheim, Eliot, et al. Behind the Scenes: Leadership and Decision-Making in a Natural Disaster. North Dakota Museum of Art, 2001. 

^[4] Bakken, Ryan. Come Hell and High Water: The Incredible Story of the 1997 Red River Flood. Grand Forks Herald, 1997. 

^[5] Bakken, Ryan. Come Hell and High Water: The Incredible Story of the 1997 Red River Flood. Grand Forks Herald, 1997. 

^[6] Hageman, John. “Flood Protection System Gives Grand Forks Security, but Expert Says Flooding Is a Possibility.” Dickinson Press, Dickinson Press, 2 Jan. 2018, https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/flood-protection-system-gives-grand-forks-security-but-expert-says-flooding-is-a-possibility. 

Byzewski, Leah. “A Look Back: George Clifford, One of Those behind Cream of Wheat, Was Successful Early Settler of Grand Forks.” Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks Herald, 24 Dec. 2022, https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/a-look-back-george-clifford-one-of-those-behind-cream-of-wheat-was-successful-early-settler-of-grand-forks. 

VanSteenwyk , Ruth. “Security Trust Company Historical Marker.” Historical Marker, 30 Mar. 2021, https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=169719.