Only an image fully depicts the widespread destruction of the fire at Harmon's Corner on July 8, 1911. Harmon's Corner was the area at the modern day cross streets of Main and Elm Streets in Biddeford. At 10:40 PM, the call went out to the Biddeford Fire Department from box 26 at the cross streets. Only five minutes after the call was received the “Assistance Needed” six bell alarm rang out, awakening all of the residents of both cities. Half an hour later, the Biddeford and Saco Fire Departments needed more assistance and called for aid from Portland.
The two crews of thirty-six men from Portland did not arrive with their engine and hose 12:50 AM on Sunday morning. Upon their arrival, the Portland Fire Department discovered they forgot the pressure reducer used to attach their hoses to the Biddeford hydrants. Portland obtained a spare reducer from the Saco engine, the Governor Fairfield. After forty minutes, Portland turned on their stream and joined the rest of the crews already straining to extinguish the torrent of flames that covered a tenement building. The $150,000 worth of business and residential damage is equivalent to just over three and a half million dollars in today's market.
