Neiman-Marcus Fire (1964)

Duration: 0:10:40

Year Published: 1964

Sound: sound

Description: On December 19, 1964, at 3:42 am, a watchman at the original Neiman-Marcus department store in downtown Dallas called in a fire. Originating at the second-floor escalator well, the fire soon grew in ferocity. It required the skills of over 400 firefighters for more than five hours. Responders finally controlled the flames by 8:30 am, but the damage was extensive. The $9 million-worth of lost merchandise and needed repairs amounted for almost half the store’s entire estimated net worth at the time. The store was forced to close for two weeks during the peak holiday shopping season. Produced by Fire Department Training Chief R. R. Simmons and Chief F. J. Douglas, this film serves to educate firefighters, business owners, and regular Dallas residents on fire safety.