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Pier D

A Public Art Project by Deanne Achong

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Deanne / July 27, 2016

CPR Fire

July 27, 1938 – 2:25pm

She watches in disbelief. At the same time it is mesmerizing. Unbeknownst to her, A. is on the scene shooting the fire. She will find this out tomorrow.

She is also worried about J. He works downtown. She keeps watching.

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Wednesday, July 27 1938

2:25pm The entire pier – 200 wide feet, 920 feet long – is on fire.Everyone is ordered to leave the pier and work of saving records is stopped.

2:28 Hoses from the tugs “Nanoose” and Kyuoquot” were wetting down the sheds and piers.

2:30pm the Empress of Russia, berth don the west side of Pier B-C makes steam to prepare to leave if necessary

2:35 pm – Pier D caves in.

3:40pm fire crews have blue under control, helped by a fireboat and four tugs that streamed water onto the fire from the Burrard inlet.

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[Sidenote: I have edited this video, original source: AAAA2373 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives ]

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Filed Under: Local Tagged With: CPR Pier D, film, July 27 1938, Pier D fire, timeline, video, worry

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  1. Waiting Room says:
    August 24, 2016 at 5:53 pm

    […] J. is back to work, and she has A. over for lunch. A. brings a sample of her photographs from the fire. The one of the waiting room makes her think about the afterlife for some reason. Like everyone has […]

  2. Pier D - Deanne Achong says:
    September 26, 2016 at 3:45 pm

    […] the afternoon of July 27, 1938, a four alarm fire broke out on CPR’s Pier D. Pier D, is a public art project that looks at that historic moment in the life of the city’s […]

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