Fire in the Watershed The Cedar Falls Disaster of 1922

The wildfire that ignited on May 31, 1922, near Cedar Falls posed a significant threat to Seattle's hydroelectric power supply. With record temperatures and strong winds, the stage was set for disaster. City Light employees and local students quickly organized to combat the fire, which had already engulfed several buildings. They faced severe conditions, using only buckets to fight the flames and risking their safety to protect their homes. Employee Robert Wood suffered burns while drilling holes in water pipelines to douse the blaze.

Their efforts led to the preservation of nearly all Camp 2 buildings. This event marked a critical moment in understanding the vulnerabilities of urban infrastructure amid natural disasters. The Cedar Falls incident serves as a historical reminder of the relationship between communities and the environment.