Historic Fires of Fredericton

    Lord Beaverbrook Hotel Fire
    May 28, 1978

For the second time in six months, a serious fire broke out on the seventh floor of the Lord Beaverbrook Hotel. The alarm was called in at 8:21pm and was brought under control in a little over an hour. Much of the top floor, including the Royal Suite, suffered heavy damage. Crews were met by intense heat and some of the firefighters' helmets partially melted.

Ironically, the hotel had been testing it's fire alarm throughout the day and signs stating that were posted on each floor. It took crews about 15 minutes to evacuate 110 guestrooms with the help of City Police.

Fire Chief Tom Powell stated that the episode added fuel to the fire that the fire department needs a 100ft aerial ladder, and could not have been more evident that night.

Incidentally, the fire department took possession of a new 100-ft aerial ladder within a year.