On the early morning of Tuesday, December 9, 1919, the Coffeyville Fire Department responded to a fire at the Florea Drug Store on West 9th Street. Shortly after 3:00 am, Firefighters Ora Moore and Clyde Jones entered the building alongside Chief Fred McCabe to locate the source of the fire. Inside, a sudden explosion of chemicals filled the air with deadly fumes. Moore and Jones were overcome, and Chief McCabe was knocked unconscious by falling debris.

Witnessing his fellow firefighters in distress, Firefighter J.D. Dungan entered the building, pulling Chief McCabe to safety. Despite intense heat and thick smoke, Dungan and other firefighters made repeated attempts to rescue Moore and Jones. Tragically, their efforts were hindered as the fire grew and spread to McCrum’s Book Store and another business.

Firefighter Clyde Jones was eventually discovered around 9:00 am, his breathing apparatus still in place. An hour later, Firefighter Ora Moore was recovered from the debris.

The fire’s cause was attributed to Christmas decorations inside the drug store.