File:Jacksonville's 1901 Fire The Great Fire Memorial Fountain.jpg

English: On May 3rd 1901 at 12:30 PM, the fire began at the Cleveland fiber factory, 10 blocks northwest of this site. Chimney embers ignited sun dried Moss to be used as mattress stuffing. Fueled by wind and dry weather, the fire roared east destroyed most structures in its path. By 3:30 PM, the fire reached this site, then called Heming park. The park and its renowned live oaks were devoured by the flames and only the confederate monuments survived. It's very scolding red from heat. The fire continued in eastward March to hogans Creek, where citizens bucket brigade stayed the flames, then, turning South, the inferno roared to Bay street's riverfront docks. Extreme heat caused a water spout in the river where rescue boats trolled for survivors. The fire was so intense, black smoke clouds could be seen as far away as South Carolina. As flames moved West on the history, the firefighters gallant stand and dying winds brought the fire under control by 8:30 PM. In just eight hours, nearly 10,000 people were homeless, 2368 buildings were lost, 146 city blocks were destroyed, but miraculously only seven people perished. Jacksonville's 1901 fire remove most destructive burning of a southern city in U.S. history. (word for word of the sign posted right outside of this photo. I wanted to make sure I got the information correct.)