Portland Press Herald Glass Negative Collection

The fire at the Libby Building on 570-572 Congress Street started around 9 a.m. August, 21st, probably as an electrical fire in the basement. According to the August 22nd issue of the "Portland Evening Express," the Portland firefighters poured up to ten feet of water into the basement trying to contain the swiftly moving fire. Several floors above collapsed, almost trapping fire fighters in the basement.