Ten dead in fire in Younkers

The November 6, 1978, edition of the Register’s sister afternoon paper, the Des Moines Tribune, reported on the November 5 fire at the Younkers store in Merle Hay Mall, which killed 10 employees. The fire was the deadliest in Des Moines history. It started in a leaking heating and cooling system before the store opened that Sunday. Families of the victims later sued the city for failing to enforce various fire and building codes.

Every day this month, as the Register celebrates its 175th anniversary,^e birthday, we share front pages of notable moments in history.