22 June 1969

The Cuyahoga River, in Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the most polluted waterways in the United States. Feeding into Lake Erie, the river became infamous for its extreme industrial pollution, to the point that the river catching fire occurred multiple times. A particularly damaging fire in 1952 caused $1 million in damages to structures on and over the waterway. The gray-brown water hosts no life and is frequently clogged with trash and discharge.

Such was the case on 22 June when another large fire erupted. Floating pieces of oil-slicked debris were sparked by a passing train, creating a blaze lasting half an hour. At its peak, the flames reached a height of five stories, and the fire resulted in the destruction of two railway bridges.

While the fire was relatively short and resulted in no deaths, it again goes to highlight the massive damage being done by industrial processes in the United States, even in spite of the recent downturn in industrial activity within the country. It is clear that widespread support for a national organization to monitor this growing crisis.