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Aberdeen Museum Of History Fire
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The day everthing changed for the Aberdeen Museum of History …
June 9, 2018
At 09:27 a general automatic alarm signaled that the Aberdeen Community Center, 117 East 3rd Street, may have a fire.
Seven years ago on Saturday morning, June 9, 2018, Captain Kelly Neimi of the Aberdeen Fire Department was working as Acting Battalion Chief. He was looking forward to coaching a youth soccer team for a couple of hours as soon as his replacement, Captain Sam Baretich arrived, but as often happens when firefighters make plans, an alarm bell rang just as Baretich was parking his car.
Both Baretich and Niemi grabbed their gear. This was a one-alarm fire call so fire crews from both the Headquarters fire station and the South Side fire station were responding.
As Acting Battalion Chief Baretich approached the first traffic signal at Market and Alder Street he could see a plume of black smoke rising into the sky; this was definitely not a false alarm. He was hoping it was a car fire or a dumpster fire when he called in a second alarm at 09:32. This was now a two-alarm fire, and alarm bells were ringing in the Hoquiam, Cosmopolis, and Central Park Fire Stations. At 09:33 as he turned the corner at Market and Broadway, Baretich saw flames erupting from the roof of the Armory Building and called in a third alarm. Every off-duty firefighter in Aberdeen, Hoquiam and Cosmopolis was being called in. At 09:35 Acting Battalion Chief Baretich arrived on scene and established Incident command. The crew from the main station were right behind him and immediately started running hoses to hydrants and to the front doors of the building. Baretich suited up, unlocked the doors at the 3rd street entrance, entered, and performed a quick assessment of the situation. At that point the fire appeared to be limited to the museum portion of the building, and after unlocking the museum doors he determined that the best location for an offensive attack was just inside the museum doors.
Video Gallery
Aberdeen Museum of History Fire June 9, 2018
On June 9, 2018, the community of Aberdeen faced a devastating event as fire engulfed the Aberdeen Museum of History, a beloved institution that held the rich heritage of the region. The fire, which started in the early morning hours, quickly escalated from a one-alarm to a three-alarm response, mobilizing firefighters from several nearby stations. As flames erupted from the roof of the Armory Building, Acting Battalion Chief Sam Baretich and his team raced against the growing inferno to protect the museum’s valuable collections. Despite their efforts, the fire caused extensive damage, leading to the loss of irreplaceable artifacts and exhibitions that told the story of Aberdeen’s past. This tragedy not only impacted the physical structure of the museum but also left a profound mark on the community, prompting a collective response to ensure the preservation of local history for future generations. Since that fateful day, efforts have been launched to rebuild and revitalize the museum, underscoring the resilience and commitment of the citizens of Aberdeen to honor their heritage.
