In 1875, a fire in Dublin caused a river of flaming whiskey, leading to 13 deaths from alcohol poisoning, not burns.
Fire starts in Dublin warehouse
In 1875, a fire broke out in a warehouse in Dublin's Liberties neighborhood, releasing a stream of flaming whiskey that flowed more than four hundred meters through the streets. The fire started at the malt house and customs warehouse of Laurence Malone on Chamber Street, where approximately 5,000 barrels of whiskey and other alcohols were stored.Flaming alcohol spreads through streets
The fire spread rapidly, with wooden casks giving way under pressure and heat, creating a river of burning alcohol that was about 60 centimeters wide and 15 centimeters deep. The flames, characterized by their blue color, lit up the facades of nearby buildings and caused panic among residents.Unconventional firefighting methods
Captain James Robert Ingram, who led the fire brigade, used sand and horse manure collected from nearby stables to contain the fire, as water was ineffective against the flaming alcohol. This strategy, though unconventional, proved successful in preventing the fire from spreading further into the densely populated neighborhood.Tragic consequences of the disaster
The most tragic aspect of the incident was that none of the thirteen victims died from the flames themselves. Instead, they succumbed to acute alcohol poisoning after drinking the raw, undiluted whiskey that flowed through the streets. Many residents of the Liberties, a modest neighborhood where alcohol was expensive, saw the disaster as an unexpected opportunity to obtain free liquor, using hats, bowls, and even their boots as makeshift containers.Material damage and historical record
The fire caused significant material damage, including the destruction of thirty-five houses and the death of several pigs. The event remains a notable case study in industrial disasters, highlighting the unexpected secondary effects of such incidents. Historians, including retired firefighter turned historian Las Fallon, have documented the event in detail in his book The Great Liberties Whiskey Fire, published in 2019 by Kilmainham Tales.
