Grand Forks in Grand Forks County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Flames and Flood
Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 26, 2020
1. Flames and Flood Marker
The battle lost. The cities evacuated. By Saturday, April 19, the community was devastated. Shock turned to disbelief when, at 4:15 p.m. a fire was reported in the downtown Grand Forks Security Building, which stood at this site.
Amid four-foot freezing flood waters, firefighters first rescued 40 apartment tenants who had not evacuated. Then, returning to the fire, they found themselves facing formidable obstacles. The lake that engulfed the city stalled the fire trucks. The fire hydrants, submerged in flood water, were without pressure.
Airbase personnel once again came to the rescue, bringing in flatbed trucks to ferry fire equipment into place. Planes and helicopters were enlisted to drop fire retardant. Two days later the fire came under control but not before destroying eleven buildings in two city blocks in the heart of downtown Grand Forks. It resembled a war-zone.
Erected by City of Grand Forks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is April 19, 1997.
Location. 47° 55.587′ N, 97° 1.973′ W. Marker is in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in Grand
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Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Red River Valley. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Flood of Assistance (here, next to this marker); Digging Through the Muck (here, next to this marker); Returning to Devastation (here, next to this marker); Rebuilding and Recovery (here, next to this marker); A Story of Triumph (a few steps from this marker); Dinnie Block (a few steps from this marker); New Hampshire Apartments (within shouting distance of this marker); Security Trust Company (about 300 feet away, measured in
Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 26, 2020
2. Flames and Flood Marker
Also see . . . 1997 Red River Flood. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on March 15, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 279 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 30, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
