August the 4th, a fire broke out in a frame building on the north side of Railroad Avenue (now Pacific Ave) between Post and Lincoln streets. The fire could have been extinguished, but there was not enough water pressure at the fire hydrants and the man in charge of the water system was out of town. The fire was soon out of hand and eventually burned down 32 buildings on 27 blocks of Spokane - an estimated $6,000,000 - with only half insured.