Imagination Station will premiere the documentary, The Trail Fire of 1961, on Monday, June 24 at 6 pm in the museum’s KeyBank Discovery Theater. Doors open at 5 pm.
All are invited to attend the premier to gather, honor and learn about the tragic day. As the fire service has a saying, “As long as their names are spoken, they are remembered.”
On June 10, 1961, a tanker truck flipped and burst into flames on the corner of Vinton Street and Anthony Wayne Trail. The truck burned for 15 minutes before eventually exploding. Four firefighters passed away in their fight to put out the fire, six other firefighters and 81 civilians were left injured.
“For many of us, June 10, 1961, is etched in our memories forever. This tragic fire claimed the lives of more firefighters than any other in the history of the Toledo Fire Department. Sixty-nine firefighters were dispatched. Four firefighters—Ewald Bode, Glenn Carter, William Genson and Robert Harrison—gave their lives. Several others were severely injured. In total, there were about 80 casualties that day, including first responders and civilians. This film goes beyond documenting history; it is our way of showing that we remember their sacrifice and honor their memory,” Joe Walter, retired Assistant Chief of the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department said.
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The Trail Fire of 1961 will do a deep dive into the story of the Trail Fire and the “valiant efforts” of the firefighters that day. The documentary was made with no taxpayer dollars and was made to give deeper meaning to that day.
Tickets to the show cost $5 and can be purchased on imaginationstationtoledo.org. For more information, visit tickets.imaginationstationtoledo.org/performance.aspx?pid=30058.
