Biddeford History & Heritage Project

The ruins of the City Building fire were devastating to behold. The first alarm regarding the blaze rang out at 12:55 AM on New Years Day, 1895. Originating in the bathroom of the City Building, firefighters quickly extinguished the initial fire. However, the smoke inside of the building did not cease. Flames were seen shooting across the ceiling of the Biddeford Police Station. Firemen were unaware that the original flames had been crawling inside of the walls of the bathroom. Almost all of the buildings adjacent to the City Building were left in ruins by the time the fire was considered “All Out” at 6 AM. Losses included the Biddeford Police Department, all of the offices of the City Building, the City Opera House, the bell tower that stood about the council chamber, First National Bank and a number of small businesses and apartments. Luckily, the heavy snow fall on top of the roofs of the buildings ensured that the flames did not spread all the way across Main and Adams Street.

During the early morning firefighting, the temperature was six degrees below zero Fahrenheit. All of the ice that accumulated came from the water used to put the fire out. The massive walls of ice completely encased the electrical pole outside of the City Building, wrapping and shattering the power lines in the process. While the total losses totaled close to $7 million in today's dollars, none of the vaults inside the City Building and First National Bank were damaged, saving thousands of city and banking records.