This 3 alarm fire at Manhattan Box 99 occurred in the same area ravaged by the Great Fire of 1835 (where 600 buildings destroyed). This December 23, 1923 blaze was ignited by a pile of oily rags left by painters inside this eight-story building at 321 Pearl Street. The danger of the flames spreading was so great that Deputy Chief James Heffernan requested all apparatus south of Delancey Street to the scene. Due to the determined actions of the chief and his men the fire was contained. Firemen are seen here operating lines from the elevated subway tracks and working on fire escapes.