First Responders: Shelby Louden - Paramedic

What job did you perform on the night of the fire and/or the days following?

I was a Paramedic. I worked at the Armory the next day which served as a makeshift morgue for the victims of the fire. We provided medical support for families who may have needed help.

Do you have any specific memories or thoughts about the night that you’d like to share?

That night (the night of the fire), one of our captains from the Mack Volunteer Fire Department was celebrating with his wife and others at the Supper Club. After getting his wife out of the building, George Zorick went back in to help save others. He perished in the fire. We dedicated a new station in his name. He was a good friend, and he’ll always be remembered.

Is there anything specific about the fire, how it was handled that night and in the years following that you’d like to share?

It was a large conflagration, the fire departments were small with some limitations as to equipment and training. I'm not sure if pre-planning (for a large fire) took place or if the water resources were sufficient. Laws did change because of this fire.

Community: Meredith and Tom Wells

 

Our son, Jason, was a small baby in May of 1977.

I was joyous but tired and ready for a night out. So when my in-laws came for a visit I thought that would be the perfect time to plan a special evening of entertainment. 

Dinner and a live show? Perfect. I made reservations at Beverly Hills. 

But as the weekend drew near, I began to feel guilty for thinking about leaving the little babe with a sitter, so we stayed home. 

Imagine my horror when I saw the headlines in the newspaper that morning!