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The
Scully fire
Witnessing the death of a landmark
By
Mike Fak
[JAN.
17, 2001] The
remarkable sandstone structure known to Lincoln residents for the
past eight decades as the Scully Building stood silhouetted against
the dark winter's sky. The illumination that made the structure
discernible a full two blocks away was being created by an
all-consuming fire that, without concern for the building or the
neighborhood, was signaling the end of one of Lincoln’s most
venerable structures.
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The
licking flames shooting through the roof ignored the powerful streams
of freezing-cold water being directed toward them. They were too busy
signing the death warrant of a building storied in pictures since the
1920s — pictures that from now on will be the only physical
remembrance of a cornerstone of downtown Lincoln.
The
flames were so great in intensity that for hours the heavy deluge of
water directed from three different directions could only keep them
from spreading but could not extinguish them. All the while, the
flames broiling through the roof guaranteed there would be no way this
structure will continue to stand on the corner of Kickapoo and Pekin
streets.
As
I walked around the structure, crews of firemen from the entire area
worked to bring the blaze under control. Police worked to keep
hundreds of citizens at a safe distance. City and utility crews stood
at the ready, to be directed wherever they were needed.
Some
of those watching and milling about were only interested in observing
the drama of a major fire in a city blessed with few such
conflagrations. Others, by their expressions, showed they understood
what they were witnessing. Something unique and singular to the city
of Lincoln was expiring in the frigid night air. They, as I, were
attending a wake.
In
the days ahead we will be made aware of the details of this night.
Perhaps we will learn how it started.
We
will learn of the consequences to other businesses in the vicinity.
Water and smoke damage are pervasive to inventories and fixtures, and
I fear this night we may have lost for a time the greater part of the
businesses on the Kickapoo side of the street.
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Perhaps
blame will eventually be placed on some error in human judgment.
Surely for just the moment we will all understand and appreciate more
fully the duties of our city fire and police. We will take comfort in
so many agencies from all over the area coming to help us with no
immediate concern for their time or their costs.
We
will remark to each other what a shame it is that it takes a disaster
to find out how well we work together, how encompassed by a common
bond we all really are in this community.
The
story of the Scully Building fire is just beginning. In the weeks to
come we will learn more. We will need to do more. Businesses and a
downtown economy sent reeling by a single night’s disaster will need
a community effort of interest and support to heal from this
catastrophe. How we react to this challenge in the ensuing months will
tell how disastrous this evening really has been for the city of
Lincoln.
I
will remember this night quite simply. A fire crew in front of the
building decided to redirect their hose from the roof into the second
floor area to gain closer access to the core of the flame. For just a
moment as the incredible pressure of the hose hit the window, the
spray of water was pushed back and flowed uselessly down the outside
of the brick shell. Just one last time, the Scully Building wanted to
show us how well it had been made, how special it truly was. Then with
a crash, the window caved in as the water dove into the building to
battle the destructive blaze.
[Mike Fak]
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