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The Lumby Fire of 1932

A rustic wooden building with a porch has a sign showing it is a laundry. A cow is standing in the fenced yard. There is a large pile of wood next to the building and the ground is covered in snow.

Lumby Historians Collection

The most disastrous fire in Lumby’s history occurred at 3:00 am on Saturday, October 8th, 1932.

The fire started in the office of the Shields store on main street.  Exploding paint cans, shotgun and rifle shells caused the fire to spread across the street to the Rams Horn Hotel, Morand Hotel and the McCusker residence.

In 1932, Lumby did not have a fire department.  The Vernon Fire Department responded with their pumper truck.

Although much of the main section of town was destroyed, all of the other businesses were saved, including the laundry run by Charlie Numm featured in this image.