Could there be a repeat of the 1902 Fire?

The Alexander City Fire Department constantly trains and has equipment to help prevent a fire similar to the one in 1902. Building codes should also aid to prevent a fire of that scale today.

Building codes and modern technology will likely prevent another Alexander City inferno destroying most of town.

The fire in 1902 had advantages a fire today doesn’t have — just about everything was made of wood and no water supply to put out a blaze. Today, a fire stands little chance of taking out downtown Alexander City. Design and construction materials make a difference in preventing the spread of fire and modern firefighting technology helps as well.

Cliff Williams is a staff writer for Tallapoosa Publishers.