Today in Fire

About This Fire History Archive

Today in Fire is a free, searchable fire history database built for firefighters, fire officers, instructors, and anyone who believes the past still has something to teach us. The archive covers major fire incidents from across the United States and beyond — including landmark structure fires, deadly wildfires, hazmat disasters, aircraft accidents, and firefighter line-of-duty deaths (LODD).

Notable incidents in the archive include the Station Nightclub Fire (2003), the Sofa Super Store Fire in Charleston (2007), the Back Bay Fire in Boston (1972), the Yarnell Hill Fire (2013), the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911), the MGM Grand Hotel Fire (1980), Black Sunday, the One Meridian Plaza Fire, and dozens more. Each entry includes the date, location, incident type, and key lessons that shaped firefighting tactics and policy.

Use the Fire History Search to filter by category — structure fires, wildfires, hazmat, conflagrations, aircraft fires, terrorism, and ship fires — or search by date, incident name, or city. You can also browse what happened on this day in fire history and bookmark incidents to revisit later.

The archive is a growing collection curated by Brandt Truver, a fire captain with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and a 16-year veteran of the fire service. It is not an exhaustive record — it is a resource designed to spark conversation, promote reflection, and keep the memory of critical incidents alive. Learn more on the About page or submit a suggestion to help the archive grow.