Devastating Fires

Founded in 1870 as the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railway’s Pacific Division, Kalama blossomed into a lively river town on the Columbia River. Early buildings were elevated on wooden stilts to combat flooding, with plank roads lining the main streets, albeit with the risk of fire hazards. Kalama is celebrated for its resilience, rebuilding after numerous devastating fires struck its industries and downtown from the late 19th to early 20th century, including a major fire in 1879 that destroyed half the town following economic downturns resulting from the relocation of the railroad’s headquarters. In 1914-1915, a devastating fire destroyed the expanding Mountain Timber Company mill, a vital lumber operation established around 1907-1908. By 1924, downtown faced multiple fires that ravaged several blocks in quick succession. A May blaze struck a local mill, another hit the Doty Fish Company, and the most destructive fire on June 10 obliterated the Majestic Theatre, a baseball field, the Columbia Hotel, and the old Town Hall, causing over $150,000 in damages. Reconstruction followed, but in 1938, a significant fire engulfed downtown, including the notable Fogarty Building. Before 1935, Kalama’s wooden stilts and plank streets offered little fire safety, increasing risks during disasters. Yet, the town’s tenacity shone through, evolving from a railroad center into a modern port community.