October 20 1944 East Ohio Gas Explosion

On the afternoon of Friday, October 20, 1944 a leak developed in the Number 4 tank of the East Ohio Gas Company's Liquefaction, Storage and Regasification Plant near East 62nd Street and St. Clair Avenue. An unknown ignition source caused a massive explosion and fire engulfed the entire neighborhood leading to the failure of the Number 3 tank. Flames shot an estimated 2,800 feet into the sky. At least 130 people were killed and hundreds were injured, dozens of building and homes in the area were destroyed.

Plain Dealer photo

Above photos and diagrams from Report on the Investigation of the Fire at the Liquefaction Storage and Regasification Plant of the East Ohio Gas Co Cleveland Ohio October 20, 1944.