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On December 13, 1905, a date that seemed fated for misfortune, Evanston witnessed its darkest hour as the city’s fire department faced tragedy unlike any before. This was the day George McKimmons began his career as a fireman, reporting to Station No. 1 after being hired just the previous day. Coincidentally, earlier that week, Carl Harrison, son of former EFD Chief Sam Harrison and himself a respected officer, had been appointed Fire Marshal. However, Harrison, being superstitious, insisted he wouldn’t officially take office until the next day, December 14, allowing Acting Chief Jack Sweeting to oversee operations for one last day.
It was around noon when alarms blared across Evanston, signaling a fire at the sprawling Mark Manufacturing Company. Situated at 1900 Dempster Street, this facility was the city's largest employer, housing over 1,000 workers who produced wrought-iron pipes. Comprised of multiple interconnected structures including the pipe mill, engine house, warehouses, and auxiliary buildings, the complex was vital to the community’s economy.
Fire erupted in the socket room due to a leak in a crude oil pipeline, forcing all 200 employees to evacuate safely. Meanwhile, the EFD arrived on scene to find flames engulfing the pipe mill. Unfortunately, low water pressure from distant hydrants rendered standard methods ineffective. The sole steam engine, capable of delivering only two streams simultaneously, struggled against the inferno.
Acting Chief Sweeting directed Truck Co. 1 to enter via the north entrance while Engine Co. 1 targeted the southeast corner. Despite these efforts, disaster struck as explosions rocked the structure. South and eastern walls collapsed, trapping several firefighters beneath debris. Rookie George McKimmons played a crucial role in saving one survivor, William Craig, though tragically, Craig succumbed shortly after reaching the hospital.
Tragedy deepened when another firefighter, George Stiles, was found unconscious under burning wreckage and later pronounced dead at the hospital. Two other firefighters suffered severe injuries, and a third narrowly escaped major harm thanks to his helmet deflecting a falling brick. Adding to the chaos, harsh weather conditions worsened rescue attempts, delaying full extinguishment of the blaze.
Carl Harrison, despite his delay in assuming duties, claimed ignorance regarding the catastrophe, stating he merely observed the unfolding events as a bystander. The Mark Manufacturing Company bore significant losses—$115,000 worth of damages, destroying key facilities and damaging railcars nearby. It took nearly eight decades for such a devastating loss of life to occur again within the ranks of the Evanston Fire Department.
Reflecting on this grim day, George McKimmons, now immortalized for his bravery, served twice with the EFD before moving to Chicago where he rose to captaincy and established Truck Co. 44. His legacy lived on through family members like his brother Dan, who served proudly for over three decades before retiring as a lieutenant in 1943.