On Memorial Day this coming Monday, please join us in remembering World War I veteran and Distinguished Service Cross Award recipient Charles R. Reilley, in battle roughly 99 years ago. 33 years later, he became Chief of the Marin County Fire Department, following the very difficult first decade of their existence, which our new Part III covers. Part I told the story of Charlie's family history and early life, and Part II was focused on his service in the U.S. Army in Europe in World War I, where he was recognized for "...extraordinary heroism..."
A hero in war, and many years later a quiet hero who overcame serious challenges, including the Marin County Board of Supervisors considering outsourcing County fire protection in unincorporated areas to the California Department of Forestry. This was considered in part to save money, and in greater part because of major problems in MCFD. Read about these events now in Part III of Charlie's story. The final Part IV later this year will cover his service as Fire Chief from 1951-1962, and a huge retirement dinner held in San Rafael for Charlie, with roughly 300 attending. May he rest in peace. On a beautiful day that would feature the San Rafael St. Raphael's Mission parade on May 21, 1950, a spark from a worker using a paint sander ignited a pool of solvent, creating what San Rafael Fire Commissioner Walter Castro later described as a "roaring hell." Two firefighters died in the line of duty fighting the fire inside the Mar Vista Motors shop at 812 Fourth St. The roof collapsed in a very hot fire, and both Aubrey Miller and William Bottini were trapped and fatally injured.
Later this week we'll be publishing the story of another large commercial fire in San Rafael two months earlier in 1950, where a roof also collapsed and two firefighters were injured. Thankfully their injuries were not serious. A photo from that fire was published across the nation through the Associated Press release. This fire has been forgotten, like so many in the history of Marin County, but thanks to the Marin Fire History project sponsored by the Marin County Fire Chiefs Association, it will now be remembered. Each month we are discovering and indexing more major fires in Marin history. Please join us this week in remembering William Bottini and Aubrey Miller, and may they rest in peace. Click below to go to the page with the stories, photos, and video of the fatal fire that includes footage of the roof collapsing. |
AuthorOur Blog announces new site content, and gives the context of the topic and it's relationship to fire service history. Written by Bill Lellis & Paul Smith Archives
August 2022
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