2007A fire destroyed Temple Ahavat Achim and the Lorraine Apartments.People and Communities, Events & Anniversaries, Fires, Jewish History

On the night of December 14 the Lorraine Apartments caught fire, killing one resident and leaving 26 people homeless. The four-story building, constructed in 1910 as a hospital, had a central chamber which acted as a chimney, and the lack of a sprinkler system enhanced the fire. The winds caused the fire to spread to the Temple, completely destroying it. The Sawyer Free Library was in danger as well and was only spared due to a last-minute shift in wind direction. Within days questions arose to the fire department’s initial response and overall handling of the fire.