Adair's Furniture Store Area Fire photographs

Two photographs document firefighting in the area of Adair's and other furniture stores in Xenia, Ohio. The fire broke out during clean-up operations following the devastating tornado that struck Xenia, Ohio on April 4, 1974. Two National Guard members were killed in the fire. The slides measure 2" x 2" (5.08 x 5.08 cm). On April 4, 1974 an F5 tornado (the most intense tornado, reaching speeds of over 261 miles per hour) hit Xenia. It touched down at 4:30 p.m. nine miles southwest of Xenia and entered town at 4:40 p.m. Of 25,000 residents, 33 were killed and 1600 were injured. More than 1400 buildings were damaged or destroyed and total estimated damages exceeded $400 million. Xenia was declared a national disaster area, and the American Red Cross, as well as several hundred Ohio National Guard troops, moved into Xenia for several weeks to assist with the rescue and clean up. The Xenia tornado was the deadliest and most damaging of storms that comprised the "Super Outbreak" that occurred April 3 and 4, 1974, when 148 storms hit thirteen states