Cuyahoga River Fire
- Date Range
- 1868 – June 22, 1969
- Title
- Cuyahoga River Fire
- What occurred
- The past century, Cleveland Ohio was a major industrial manufacturing hub. Near the end of the 1960s, waste and sewer disposal lacked any major regulations. All of these pollutants were constantly littered into the Cuyahoga River near Cleveland. This river was considered one of the most polluted rivers in the U.S. because of these conditions. Beginning in 1868, the river caught fire multiple times. The latest occurrence happened in 1969, when a train sped by igniting oil covered debris. There were no major damages and injuries like previous occurrences, but there was a lot more media coverage due to the timing this took place in; right around environmentalism was taking off. Because of this fire, congress was inspired to prevent future events like this again by passing the National Environmental Policy Act on the first day of the very next year in 1970. This act was crucial in establishing the Environmental Protection Agency. So, overall, this event was more impactful legislative wise in comparison to the lasting damage/fatalities caused by the Cuyahoga River fire.
- Location
- Cuyahoga County, Ohio
- Image Citation
- http://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Cuyahoga_River_Fire
- Student name(s)
- David Lennon
Part of Cuyahoga River Fire