daysilikon.blogg.se

It is when we view a river as a natural system that a fire seems out of place.Īlmost immediately, the narrative began to change. In that light, a river fire seemed more normal. At the time, people largely saw the river a part of industrial infrastructure. The first newspaper coverage focused on the damage, not the fact that the river had burned. The river had burned more than 10 times over the previous century. The 1969 fire did not surprise Clevelanders. A Local Story Gains International Attention The fire lasted for less than a half hour and resulted in minor damage to the railroad bridges. A flare tossed from an overpassing train likely provided the spark that ignited the debris. Oil on the water added to its flammability. Railroad bridges near Republic Steel trapped debris in the river, causing it to pile up. Heavy industry dominates this section of the river. The fire took place in Cleveland, Ohio, a few miles north of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Today, we celebrate this symbolism, not just the facts of the story. Regardless, the Cuyahoga River fire has become a symbol of water pollution and the environmental movement. Myth enters the stories when people describe the fire as a primary cause of major milestones in the environmental movement. People generally agree about what occurred on and immediately after June 22, 1969. Stories about the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire often combine fact and myth. The interview took place the day after the fire on the railroad bridge damaged by the fire.Ĭleveland State University Library/Cleveland Press Collection Pioneering environmental journalist Betty Klaric interviews Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes about the river fire.